MUS 250 Sound Cultures in the World

Japanese Music Listening Examples

Focus on boxed examples & bold items

[1] genre: GAGAKU (title: Etenraku). Music of the Imperial courts. Note transparent, non-blending timbres and slow tempo. Maximum effect from minimum means. Large rhythmic cycles. Jo-ha-kyu.

[2] genre: SHAKUHACHI MUSIC (title: Daha). Music for the shakuhachi (bamboo flute), associated with Zen meditation. Note free rhythm.

[3] genre: Music from KABUKI (sub-genre: Naga-uta, one of several types of music used in Kabuki Theater, the theatrical genre full of extravagant effects that catered to the middle class). Note non-blending timbres and loose rhythmic co-ordination

[4] genre: music for KOTO (Title: Godan-Kinuta). This duet features the koto, a 13-string zither. Chamber music associated with the cultivated middle class.

[5] genre: FOLK MUSIC ASSOCIATED WITH SHINTO (bon dance “Awa-Odori”). Note loose rhythmic co-ordination

[6] genre: Music from NOH (play title “Hagoromo” (The Robe of Feathers)). MAXIMUM effect from MINIMUM means.

[7] genre: FOLK MUSIC (genre: Matsuri-bayashi) Notice the not-quite-regular drum patterns in a duple context.

[8] genre: KOUTA (title: Hakusen No) Music associated with Geisha culture.

[9] genre: ENKA (title: Naite Nagasaki) gave birth to karoke. What musical traits are imported?