Transcript Lecture 10: Music of India (cont.)

Chapter 5:
Music of Japan
Introduction to World Music; SMSU
1
Japan
Culture old and new, Eastern and Western
 Outside cultural influences include writing
system from China; Buddhism from India
through Korea and China
 Musical elements connections with Korea
and China; European and American
influences in 19th and 20th centuries, but
Japan, somewhat isolated in the past, has
developed many of its own music traditions 2

3
Introduction to World Music; SMSU
4
Introduction to World Music; SMSU
5
Introduction to World Music; SMSU
6
Introduction to World Music; SMSU
7
Although more involvement with new
music in past 100 years, traditional music
remains viable
 Kabuki and bunraku theaters in larger cities
 Concerts of traditional instrumental and
vocal music
 Private and televised instruction in
shakuhachi and shamisen

8
Haiku
Traditional Japanese poetry; today, a 17syllable verse form consisting of three
metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.
 Words contain a sentiment, idea, or
emotion, often only describing around the
concept.

9
Haiku Examples

Basho, Matsuo
Fallen sick on a journey,
In dreams I run wildly
Over a withered moor

Kato, Shusan
I kill an ant and realize
My three children
Have been watching

Ryusui
In all this cool
Is the moon also sleeping:
There, in the pool?
10
Music in Japan
Musical elements from Korea and China;
European and American influences from
19th century to present
 In art music, appreciation for unpitched
sounds, flexibility of pulse; tempo often
accelerates to show excitement in theater

11
Japanese Traditional Music





Use of pentatonic scale
Timbre: use of unpitched sounds
Melodies differ per instrument & tradition, often
made up of small repeated sections; little in the
way of “harmony.”
Rhythm: flexibility of pulse in many pieces
Form: mostly based on jo-ha-kyu
– Jo: slow introduction
– Ha: building tempo
– Kyu: rushing tempo, then slowing at end
12
Gagaku music; Japanese; “elegant
music” protected in the imperial court
for more than 1,000 years, retains the
style, sound, music of ancient Japan.
13
Gagaku ensemble
14
Koto, a 13-string
board zither with
movable bridges.
15
Shakuhachi



Bamboo flute; four holes in the
front, one hole in the back
Allows for versatility in pitch
and tone qualities; sometimes
breathy, almost like white noise
Between 1600-1857, Buddhist
monks (komuso - emptiness
monks) created repertoire of
meditative, rhythmically free
pieces for shakuhachi.
16
Example of Shakuhachi Music
CD 1:23: “Tsuru no sugomori” or “Nesting
Cranes”
 Performed in the kabuki theater
accompanied by shamisen
 Ma - space or interval - the timing of a
piece including rests and relationship
between sound and silence.

17
Shamisen



Three-stringed long-necked
lute, producing banjo-like sound
Associations with austere
spirituality and meditation;
outpouring of emotion and
drama for the theater (such as
Kabiki)
Covered with snakeskin, cat
skin, or dog skin; wooden box
roughly square in shape
18
Kouta
Song form that evokes many images and
allusions in a short time; dates from midnineteenth century
 Women played key role in teaching this
music to generations of male performers

19
Iemoto Guilds
Several different guilds may be involved
with a single type of music
 Player must decide which style he or she
wants to learn; become affiliated with the
guild that follows that style
 Guilds also control quality; new
composition in many genres was
discouraged or even forbidden

20
Example
CD 1: 24: “Hakusen no” (“A White Fan”)
 Image of a white fan and the beauty of
nature are used as metaphors for romantic
commitment
 For wedding banquets or private parties
 Geisha still trained to entertain at such
occasions, but fewer than in the past

21
Minyo (Folk Song)



Accompanied everyday activities; not as
relevant as they used to be, but still very
popular; has become more professional and
standardized
“Nikata-bushi” (CD 1: 25) from the region
of Akita in northwestern Japan
Instrument (shamisen) plays nearly steady
pulse while voice has a flexible rhythm
22
Popular Music
Much Western influence; Karaoke has
become popular around the world; an outlet
for stress
 Enka composers have adapted songs to the
tastes of younger generation; background
accompaniment; “Upbeat” with faster
tempos and optimistic lyrics

23
Example of Enka
CD 2:1 “Naite Nagasaki” (“Crying
Nagasaki”)
 Typical of old-fashioned enka
 Images evoked are common to many enka
songs: romantic associations, crying in the
windy night, rain; sad mood

24
Taiko (Drum Ensemble)
CD 1:26
 Relatively new tradition, stemming from
Ondekoza, and Kodo.
 Originally professing an austere lifestyle
and highly synchronized music, groups now
may have gender inclusive performances
and much flair in showmanship.

25
Instruments of Taiko ensemble

Performance drums (Kabuki, noh, minyo)
– Okedo taiko (barrel-bodied drums)
Quick Time™ a nd a
TIFF ( Un co mpr es sed ) d eco mp res so r
ar e n eed ed to s ee thi s pi ctu re.
– Shime taiko
Quic kT ime™ and a
T IFF (Uncompress ed) decompress or
are needed to s ee this pi cture.

Qui ckT ime™ and a
T IFF (Uncompres sed) dec ompres sor
are needed to s ee this pic ture.
Shrine drums
– Nagado taiko (large bodied drum)
– Hirado taiko (wide bodied drum)
Quic kT ime™ and a
T IFF (Uncompres sed) decompres sor
are needed to s ee this picture.


Cymbals
Flutes
26
Taiko Groups

Kodo:
– http://www.kodo.or.jp/frame.html

San Jose Taiko:
– http://www.taiko.org/main.html
27
Gagaku Instruments
Sho (Sheng in China)
28
Gagaku Instruments
Hichiriki
29
Summary




Most Japanese music we’ve studied is
traditional, but there are also many pop
genres.
Traditional Characteristics in rhythm,
melody, timbre and form - ?
Highly influenced by Chinese music, and
more recently by European and American
models.
“Classical” and “Folk” traditions are kept
alive by a few.
30
Homework (Due Monday, 3/13)
Part I: Online Quiz, Chapter 5
 Part II: Questions from p. 191:

– #3
– #7
31