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Music History
World Music – The Music of Japan
Lecture Notes
I. Cultural Context of Japan
A. Religion
1. Shinto: Beliefs in ancestral spirits and nature spirits
2. Zen Buddhism: Emphasis on meditation; believes in immediate
enlightenment
B. Isolated country
C. Emphasis on family
D. Consists of four main islands and nearly 3000 smaller islands
II. The style of Japanese music is very similar to that of Chinese music with a few
exceptions.
A. Use of quarter tones and semitones (pitch bending) DEMONSTRATE
B. There are more dissonant (clashing) harmonies
C. The tempos are generally slower
D. More use of silence
E. Programmatic works
F. Deep connection to nature
III. The History of the Music of Japan
A. Native folk music was primarily designed to accompany Buddhist rituals.
1. Music was very primitive.
2. Remained this way until the Nara period (710-794) when more
complex court music arrived from China and India.
3. This music was primarily performed by foreign musicians, as the
“locals” were unfamiliar with it.
B. Chinese influence continued through the Heian period (794 – 1185) when the
music began to develop the more Japanese characteristics that are evident
today.
C. During the Kamakura period (1185 – 1336), music lost much of its
“international” characteristics and more emphasis was placed on Buddhist
chants and dramatic music.
D. Muromachi period (1336 – 1573)
1. Dramatic and theatrical music thrived
2. Bamboo flute gains wide use and popularity
3. Noh opera is formed
E. Noh continued to flourish as time went on.
F. The Meiji period (1868 – 1912) saw a great influx of western culture.
1. brass bands and military music
2. created nationalistic songs and marches
G. Modern culture has helped to blend traditional music with more modern
forms.
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IV. The Music of Japan
A. Traditional Music
1. Shomyo
a. Type of Buddhist chant
b. Dates back to eighth century
c. Important source of all forms of Japanese music that developed
in later years
2. Gagaku – orchestral court music; three types
3. Japanese folk songs
a. Singers accompanied by traditional instruments
b. work songs, religious songs, children’s songs and songs for
gatherings (i.e. weddings, funerals, holidays, etc)
B. Noh
1. Drama with music and dancing
2. Highly stylized and symbolic drama
3. Performed by a handful of male actors and musicians
4. Main character often wears a mask
5. Uses both singing and stylized speech
6. Sometimes uses instruments; only a bamboo flute and three types of
drums
C. Kabuki
1. Traditional Japanese theatre art
2. Originated in the sixteenth century; has evolved into a classical form
of a cultural tradition
a. Developed during a time of social upheaval (merchants versus
the upper class)
b. many themes of kabuki stories contain evidence of the conflicts
between humanity and the feudal system.
3. Aspects of kabuki theatre
a. No female actresses – all roles are played by men
b. Encompasses all forms of theatre that came before it (including
Noh – this is where it gets many stories)
c. Acting is the most important aspect of Kabuki theatre (we may
classify these gestures more as dancing than acting)
d. Color scheme plays a critical role in the drama – sets, costumes
and makeup are some of the most lavish in all of theatre
e. Music is an integral part; several instruments are used in
kabuki, both to accompany chanting and as a kind of sound effect.
D. In reality, most Japanese music rarely listens to the folk music of that country.
1. Japan has thriving local music culture
2. American/Western pop music is heard there
3. Have their own pop/rock music
4. This music has had limited international exposure
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