MUSIC OF JAPAN

The state of Japan or Nihon

or Nippon is an island nation
in the Pacific ocean of East
Asia. Tokyo is the capital city
of Japan.
Japanese music includes a
wide array of performers in
distinct styles both
traditional and modern.
Music = Ongaku, ON “sound”
Gaku “enjoy”
3 types of Japanese Music
1.Theatrical
2.Court music (gagaku)
3.Instrumental
Instrumental Music of Japan
Basically meditative in
character
Performances are highly
ritualize.
 Religious festivals,
works,dance,love, regional
songs.
Musical forms were
imported to China but were
reshaped into Japanese
styles.
MUSICAL ELEMENTS
a.Rhythm – based on ma (a
Japanese interval) uses
duple meter.
b.Melody- uses pentatonic
scale
c. Timbre- vocal-sung in high
throated and melismatic
manner (group of notes
sung in 1 syllable)
d.Harmony/texture –
monophonic (single
melodic line)
e.Tempo- starts slow, fast
then slow with a drown
ending.
f. Form- often follows a
three part form called j0-
ha-kyu.
TRADITIONAL MUSIC
1.Shinto – music for
worship.
- Can be classified into
KAGURA ( Shinto prayers
or the norito. Recited by
the priest to seek
purification and
blessings. Shinto
includes song, dance and
instrument called suzu)
or SHOMYO ( Buddhist
chant) written in 3
languages;
Sanskrit,Chinese or
Japanese. Sung in unison
with ornamentations,
free rhythm, and
phrases or ritual sections
marked of by bells or
percussion instruement.
2. Saibara – the Japanese
folk song. Accompanied
by an instrumental music
called Hayashi consisting
4 instruments; 3 drums
and 1 flute.
 Japanese 4 types of
pentatonic scale
 Yo scale – used in
Japanese music including
gagaku and shomyo. Used
specifically in folk songs.
 In scale – known as the
Sakura pentatonic scale.
 Ryo scale – sounds more
like Chinese scale.
 Ritsu scale - sounds more
like Japanese scale.
3.Gagaku – elegant music
refers to the traditional
court music of Japan. The
music of elite. Gagaku
means ga “refined” gaku
 “music”. Known as the art
of singing and dancing.
Gagaku style:
a.Kigaku – instrumental
music
b.Seigaku – vocal music
4 categories of Gagaku:
a.Kangen
b.Bugaku
c. Songs
d.Ritual music for Shinto
ceremonies
4.Kabuki / Noh – traditional
Japanese drama and
considered the most
popular form of
traditional Japanese
theatre. Ka “songs”, bu
“dance” , ki “skill”.
- Art form rich in
showmanship. Involes
elaborately designed
costumes, eye-catching
 make-up, outlandish
wigs, exaggerated
actions of the actors.
- An all male theatre and
each actor plays a
female role is called
onnagata / oyama with
roles including high
ranking samurai ladies,
young maidens or
wicked women.
 INSTRUMENTAL
ENSEMBLES
1.Kangen – orchestral
music and instrumental
ensemble
accompanying the
 dance in Bugaku. This
ensemble are wind and
strings instrument.
2.Sankyoku- composed of
3 famous Japanese
instrument namely,
koto,shamisen and
shakuhachi. Used an
accompaniment for
vocal music and serves
as an interlude in
 between music
sections.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
CLASSIFICATION
a.Membranophone –
percussion instrument use
 stretched membrane
vibrates to produce
sound.
b.Idiophone – percussion
instrument creates sound
 through the vibration it
self.
c. Chordophone – string
d.Aerophone – body air to
vibrate and produce
sound.
e.Electrophone – electronic

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
(Aerophone )
1.Hichiriki – double reed
Japanese oboe used as
 one of two main melodic
instruments in Japanese
gagaku music.
2.Sho – a Japanese free
reed musical instrument.
3. Horagai or jinkai – large
conch shells that have
been used as trumpets in
Japan for many centuries.
4. Shakuhachi – vertical
bamboo flute which have
5 finger holes.
5. Nokan – a parallel,
bamboo flute. The only
 melodic instrument used
in noh.
6. Shinobue- also called
takebue. A transverse
flute that has high pitch
sound.
7.Ryuteki- a dragon flute

(Chordophones)
8. Koto – 13 string zither.
Plucked usimh picks on
st
the thumb and 1 two
 fingers of the R hand.
Important part of
Japanese music.
9. Shamisen – plucked
stringed instrument.
Similar to guitar or banjo.
10. Biwa- Japanese short
necked fretted flute.
Often used in narrative
story telling.

(membranophone)
11. Odaiko / taiko- two
headed barrel drum.
12. Tsuzumi – (hourglass
shaped) 2 types,
kotsuzumi (smaller),
otsuzumi (larger).
13. Kakko – a side drum
often used to play
interesting rhythm.
14. Shime daiko- small
drum played with stick
called bachi.
15. Tsuridaiko- a large
hanging barrel drum.