1. Alpaca Lecture Mrs Cramp
Japanese Court Music
Alpaca Lecture
Mrs Cramp

2. gagaku performance

3. Styles, traditions and influences
Tends to depend on words like most East Asian music cultures.
Instrumental music is usually very descriptive and reflects the title.
No chordal harmony.
Melodies start at different times and only come together at cadences.
Through-composed rather than structured.
Structure can be labelled as jo, ha and kyu. “Introduction”, “breaking away” and “hurried”.

4. Shochikubai – Mitzuhashi
Music of pine, bamboo and plum blossom.
Instruments:
Koto Shamisen Kokyu

5. Western influence has had a greater impact in Japan than any other oriental country.
Traditional Japanese music is still highly respected.

6. Gagaku Music
China and Asian mainland influenced Japanese culture a lot 1000 years ago.
Japanese traditions lasted longer because of its islands.
Court music – Gagaku Music
Two tipes:
Komagaku – from Korea and Manchuria. Reached Japan in the 5th Century
Togaku – from China and India. Reached Japan in the 7th Century

7. Nagare – Kazuko Tsukushi
The stream
Has this piece been influenced by Western music?
Instruments:
Shakuhachi Koto

8. Heterophonic: Many melodies played at the same time but each instrument interprets it in its own way.
Whole ensemble concentrates on the melody which is memorised.
Pulse remains broadly the same throughout.
Usually describes scenes, stories or individuals. No improvisation.
Court music is performed as dance music today (bugaku) or as instrumental music (kangen).

9. Gagaku scales
Ryo mode
Ritsu mode

10. Each mode has 3 scales based on it.
Ryo has:
Ichikotsu – keynote is D
Sojo – keynote is G
Taishiki – keynote is E
Ritsu has:
Hyojo – keynote is E
Oshiki – keynote is A
Banshiki – keynote is B

11. Biwa
Usually plays the melody. Four strings Played with a plectrum biwa

12. Koto
13 strings
Plays the melody
Koto

13. Shamisen
Small, three strings
Plucked
Plays the accompaniment
shamisen

14. Wind instruments
Always made of bamboo
Ryeteki
Komabue

15. Hichiriki
Oboe-like instrument

16. Sho
Mouth organ with 17 bamboo pipes
sho

17. Percussion instruments
Outline the strong points of each phrase and also adds rhythm.
kakko taiko

18. Manzairaku
How many Gagaku instruments can you identify?