Japan

• Elements of Japanese traditional music
• pitch system: based on Chinese model: octave is divided into 12 steps, but they are untempered
• pitch selection: in most compositions 5 notes are used; interval of perfect fourth is important: occurs frequently in melody
• timbre: many unpitched sounds; often used to imitate nature
• texture: most often either monophonic or heterophonic
• rhythm: very flexible, but can be an organizing (structural) principle
• example: jo-ha-kyu has 3 parts based on tempos
• Most important elements to listen for:
• variety of timbre
• heterophonic treatment
• flexibility of pulse
• Instruments: most common traditional instruments:
• shakuhachi: flute (see picture right)
• shamisen: stringed instrument, lute-type
• koto: stringed zither-type
• VIDEO: ML 340 .D58 demonstrates these instruments
• History: today's traditional musical genres became stable in Tokugawa period (17th-19th centuries); country was very isolated from outside influences
• before this, Samurai warriors were in demand; now with peace in Tokugawa period, many warriors became priests, especially Zen Buddhist priests. Developed Shakuhachi repertoire as tool to achieve enlightenment.
• great variety of timbres can be achieved through shakuhachi techniques
  

click here for link to a map of Japan