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Music Of

Japan

Japanese MusicThe music of Japan includes a wide array of performers in distinct styles both traditional and modern. The word for music in Japanese is (ongaku), combining the kanji ("on" sound) with the kanji ("gaku" music). Local music often appears at karaoke venues, which is on lease from the record labels. Traditional Japanese music is quite different from Western Music and is based on the intervals of human breathing rather than mathematical timing.

Traditional and Folk Music.

Gagaku

- is a type of classical music that has been performed at the Imperial court since the Heian period. It is court music, and is the oldest traditional music in Japan. Gagaku music includes songs, dances, and a mixture of other Asian music. Gagaku has two styles; these are instrumental music kigaku and vocal music seigaku 

Instrumental Music:Kangen - basically, a Chinese form of music.Bugaku- influenced by Tang Dynasty China and Balhae.  Vocal Music:Kumeuta Kagurauta Azumaasobi Saibara Rōei 

Shōmyō -is kind of Buddhist song which is an added melody for a sutra. Shōmyō came from India, and it began in Japan in the Nara period. Shōmyō is sung a Capella by one or more Buddhist monks

Jōruri -Jōruri is narrative music using the shamisen. There are four main jōruri styles. These are centuries-old traditions which continue today. 

Kinds Of Joruri

1. Gidayubushi - During the Edo period, Takemoto Gidayu began to play joruri in Osaka. This type of jōruri is for Bunraku, (puppet plays).

2. Tokiwazubushi - During the Edo period, Tokiwazu Mojidayu began to play this style of joruri in Edo. This type of juror is for kabuki dances called Shosagoto.

3. Kiyomotobushi - Kiyomoto Enjyudayu began to play this for kabuki dances in Edo during the late Edo period. He began to play this style in 1814. He played Tomimotobushi style at first. He spun off from Tomimotobushi style. He started Kiyomotobushi style. This style is refreshingly unrestrained.

4. Shinnaibushi - In the middle of the Edo period, Tsuruga Shinnai began to play this for kabuki. This style of jōruri is typically lively and upbeat.

There are other four jōruri styles which have largely died out Icchuubushi, Katōbushi,

Miyazonobushi and Ogiebushi. Katōbushi, Icchuubushi and Miyazonobushi are called Kokyoku

which means old music. Ogiebushi is not jōruri, Ogiebushi is like Nagauta.

 1. Katobushi

2. Icchuubushi

3 .Miyazonobushi

4. Tomimotobushi

Nagauta

Nagauta is music using the shamisen. There are three styles of nagauta: one for kabuki dance, one for kabuki dialogue, and one of music unconnected with kabuki.Ogiebushi is similar to nagauta. Ogie Royuu began to play this style, having played nagauta style at first. He spun off from Nagauta style.

Musical Instruments in Japan

 Biwa  is a Japanese short-necked fretted lute, often used in narrative storytelling. The biwa is the chosen instrument of Benten, goddess of music, eloquence, poetry, and education in Japanese Shinto.

Hyōshigi is a simple Japanese musical instrument, consisting of two pieces of hardwood or bamboo that are connected by a thin ornamental rope. They  are used in traditional theaters in Japan to announce the beginning of a performance.

Kane  is a type of bell from Japan. a dish-shaped bell. it is often hung on a bar, and the player holds the bell in place with one hand, and beats the Kane with a specialized mallet with the other. 

Kokyū 

is a traditional Japanese string instrument, the only one played with a bow.

 Koto 

is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese zheng,  and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto are about 180 centimeters length, and made from kiri wood. They have 13 strings that are strung over 13 movable bridges along the width of the instrument

Fue 

is the Japanese word for flute, and refers to a class of flutes native to Japan. Fue come in many varieties, but are generally high-pitched and made of a bamboo called shinobue.  The most popular of the fue is the shakuhachi.

Different

types Of Fue

Shakuhachi One of the most popular and oldest of the Japanese fue.

HichirikiA unique fue in that it is a double reed instrument. used as one of two main melodic instruments in Japanese gagaku music

ShinobueAlso called the bamboo flute, it is used for nagauta, the background music used in kabuki theatre.

Ryu`teki

Used in Japanese music seeming to have a Chinese origin. Its sound is said to represent the ascension of dragons

Submitted By:Maria Ana G. Bagamasbad

Submitted To:Ms. Kathryn R. Vivas