未だに旋律の理論は、旋律や和音の要素に使われる音を高低に並べた音階が中心であり、西洋の七音音階とか東洋の五音音階と言う形で整理されているが、翁の理論は、音階から旋法に視点を変える事で、旋律に関する深い考察を提供し、旋法に関する一般理論を構築しようとするものである。翁は中国・琉球・日本の旋律の法則をオクターブ内の完全五度に収まる四音づつの相似の旋法で説明するものであり、西洋の完全四度で収まる四音づつの音階（＝旋法）と対照させた画期的なものである。翁のご子孫から先生の論文を2本お預かりしているので、是非、皆様にも公開して共有したいと思う。

We still just have Scale Theory to explain melody, where we sort notes by pitch we use in melody and harmony. We still explain we use Heptatonic Scale (seven-note scale) in Western music and Pentatonic Scale (five-note scale) in Asian music. The Venerable Mr. Seihin Yamanouchi's theory provides us deep understand to melody by changing our view point from scale to mode and his theory will be evolved into the general mode theory. He explained the principle of melody in China, Ryukyu and Japan by mode with double pattern of four notes in Perfect Fifth and compared with Western scale (=mode) with double pattern of four notes in Perfect Fourth. I think this must be a epoch-making discovery in the music theory. His son offered me copies of his two essays on Fifth Mode Method. So I strongly want to disclose his essays and share with my friends.

五度旋法論の価値は、既存の音階理論に基づく旋律を創造的に破壊し、機能的な範囲で新しい旋律や和音の可能性を無限に追究するものであると考える。これは、作曲家にとっても新しい旋律のイメージを駆り立てる手段として極めて有効であろう。これは私が十代の頃から本能的に行って来た事であるが、翁の理論はこれに理解を与え、加速させた。旋法論を西洋の音楽史で確立された音階に当てはめるとどの様な理論的発展が望めるかも楽しみであり、こちらも論文の形で公開して行きたい。

I think the value of Fifth Mode Method is that we can destroy melody based on existing scale theory creatively and promote possibility to create new melody and harmony unlimitedly that will offer you good sound patterns. This must be very effective for composers to image new melody he or she wants.
I also practiced his method instinctively since I was teen. But his theory made what I had been doing clear and accelerate my creation.
It is my pleasure to expand this method by applying to many kind of scales established in Western music history and also want to disclose the result as a report.

山内盛彬翁は、琉球貴族の末裔。沖縄が日本に帰属して近代化しつつある中で、琉球音楽の記録と継承に努めた功績は有名であるが、東アジアと西洋の旋法の統合理論の構築を試み、海外で民族音楽の収集・研究を行い、理論の実証にも心血を注いだ事実はあまり知られていない。
友人に日本語と琉球語と英語を操る詩人がおり、彼の詩に翁が旋律を提供したので、楽曲として完成させて欲しいとの依頼を受けて、何度か先生にお会いしてご助言をいただき、歌とピアノによる楽曲を完成させた。翁の人生最後の1年4か月ほどの出来事であった。

The venerable Mr. Seihin Yamanouchi is a descendant of Ryukyuan(Okinawan) aristocrat. His contribution on collecting, recording and study of Ryukyuan music is famous. But we don't know very much that he tried to build integrated mode theory of East Asia and Western and he also collected and studied ethnic music abroad and tried to prove his theory very hard.
One of my friends who was a poet and could speak Ryukyuan, Japanese and English introduced me Mr. Seihin Yamanouchi, as he created his last melody for my friend's poem and my friend asked me to complete the music. I met Mr. Seihin Yamanouchi several times for his advise for completion of this music in his last 16 months and created a piece for song and piano.