Music of Japan

• · Japanese music is usually sung in high, tight, throated, and

  melismatic manner.

  · Yo-sen and in-sen are the two basic types of scale in Japanese music

  and both are pentatonic in nature.

  · The texture of Japanese music is monophonic and it is usually

  written in duple meter.
• What influenced Japanese music historically?

  The court music of China
• How did Japanese music evolve over time?


  It was reshaped into distinctive styles based on the adoption of instruments and theory.
• What scale is Japanese music primarily based on?


  The five-tone scale or pentatonic scale
• What is Hogaku in the context of Japanese music?


  It refers to Japanese traditional music that developed an accompaniment of ritual dances called kagura.
• TEMPO - THE MUSIC OF Japan usually begins with a slower pace and gets

  faster and then gets slow again before moving into a long transition and

  ends with a drawn-out ending.
• What inspired the Japanese to write musical notes and develop compositions?

  The introduction of Buddhism
• What is gagaku in Japanese music?


  It is the court music that was developed as a result of Buddhist influence.
• Why is Japanese music considered monophonic in nature?


  Because polyphony did not flourish well unlike in Western music.
• What are some characteristics of Japanese music?

  It observes minute tones, free rhythm, delicate timbre, and is usually written in duple meter.
• What are the key characteristics of Japanese music?

  • Monophonic in nature
  • Observes minute tones
  • Free rhythm
  • Delicate timbre
  • Usually written in duple meter
• What influenced Japanese music?

  The Royal Court of China
• TEXTURE and RHYTHM- Naturally, Japanese music is monophonic, has free

  rhythms and observes minute tones with silence as the most significant

  element of Japanese songs. It is written in duple meter.
• What scale is the Royal Court of China's music based on?


  The pentatonic scale
• Which countries contributed significantly to the development of Japanese music?

  Indonesia and India
• How is Japanese music typically sung?


  In a high, tight, throated, and melismatic manner
• What are the two basic types of scales in Japanese music?

  • Yo-sen (male scale)
  • In-sen (female scale)
• What is the nature of the Yo-sen and in-sen scales?


  Both are pentatonic in nature
• In which instruments are Yo-sen and in-sen scales used?


  In koto and shamisen
• What is the male scale in Japanese music called?

  Yo-sen
• What is the female scale in Japanese music called?

  In-sen
• What is the most important note in the pentatonic scale referred to as?


  The "cornerstone" or the third note
• Why is the third note considered important in the pentatonic scale?


  It helps determine whether the scale is male
• TYPES OF TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MUSIC

  There are three (3) types of traditional Japanese Music: court music,

  instrumental music and theatrical music. The term Gagaku, which means

  "elegant and refined music", has two(2) styles; the instrumental music

  known as "Kigaku" and the vocal music, Seigaku. Gagaku is considered as the

  oldest surviving court music in some shrines and temples. Gagaku repertoire

  today is classified into four categories:

  1. Instrumental ensemble (Kangen)

  B. Dance music (Bugaku)

  C. Songs

  D. Ritual music for Shinto ceremonies
• ELEMENTS OF MUSIC OF SAKURA

  The ff. are the elements of music in Sakura: Japanese Folk Song
• Identify

  A) Timbre

  B) Rhythm

  C) Texture

  
• identify

  A) odaiko (big drum)

  B) tsuzumi (hourglass - shape)

  C) biwa

  D) shamisen

  E) shinobue

  F) sho