Music of Japan: lesson 5

The music of Japan includes a wide array of performers in distinct styles both traditional and modern. The word for music in Japanese is 音楽 (ongaku), combining the kanji 音 ("on" sound) with the kanji 楽 ("gaku" fun, comfort).


Local music often appears at karaoke venues, which is on lease from the record labels. Traditional Japanese music has no specific beat, and is calm. In 1873, a British traveler claimed that Japanese music, "exasperate[s] beyond all endurance the European breast."


TRADITIONAL AND FOLK SONG


The oldest forms of traditional Japanese music are shōmyō (声明 or you could use 聲明), Buddhist chanting, and gagaku (雅楽), orchestral court music, both of which date to the Nara and Heian periods.


Gagaku is a type of classical music that has been performed at the Imperial court since the Heian period. Kagurauta (神楽歌), Azumaasobi(東遊) and Yamatouta (大和歌) are relatively indigenous repertories. Tōgaku (唐楽) and komagaku originated from the Chinese Tang dynasty via the Korean peninsula.  In addition, gagaku is divided into kangen (管弦) (instrumental music) and bugaku (舞楽) (dance accompanied by gagaku).

Originating as early as the 13th century are honkyoku (本曲 "original pieces"). These are single (solo) shakuhachi (尺八) pieces played by mendicant Fuke sect priests of Zen buddhism. These priests, called komusō ("emptiness monk"), played honkyoku for alms and enlightenment. The Fuke sect ceased to exist in the 19th century, but a verbal and written lineage of many honkyoku continues yesterday, though this music is now often practiced in a concert or performance setting.

The samurai often listened to and performed in these music activities, in their practices of enriching their lives and understanding.

Musical theater also developed in Japan from an early age. Noh (能) or nō arose out of various more popular traditions and by the 14th century had developed into a highly refined art. It was brought to its peak by Kan'ami (1333–1384) and Zeami (1363?-1443). In particular Zeami provided the core of the Noh repertory and authored many treatises on the secrets of the Noh tradition (until the modern era these were not widely read)...

Another form of Japanese theater is the puppet theater, often known as bunraku (文楽). This traditional puppet theater also has roots in popular traditions and flourished especially during Chonin in the Edo period (1600–1868). It is usually accompanied by recitation (various styles of jōruri) (浄瑠璃) accompanied by shamisen (三味線) music.

During the Edo period actors (after 1652 only male adults) performed the lively and popular kabuki (歌舞伎) theater. Kabuki, which could feature anything from historical plays to dance plays, was often accompanied by nagauta (長唄) style of singing and shamisen performance.