Music of Japan

• Example: Shakuhachi (Tsuru no Sugomori)
• unpitched sounds used to depict movements of birds
• only approximate notation of rhythm and pitch are possible
• other shakuhachi techniques: vibrato, bent pitches, flutter tongue, tremolo, breathy sounds
• Example: Koto
• typical koto composition has 3-part structure:
• 1: slow but rhythmic
• 2: faster, using same melodic idea but different ornamentation
• 3: faster still, again with different ornamentation
• can also be described as Jo Ha Kyu, meaning slow, breaking apart, rushing
• Example: Kouta or Short Song; uses Shamisen as accompanying instrument
• a women's genre; women not allowed to participate in highest performance situations
• text expresses many nature images, also symbolic of romantic commitment
• text can be humorous, even erotic
• Musical Repertoires
• Music of Kabuki is Nagauta
• Music of Imperial Court is Gagaku
• Music of Bunraku (puppet theater genre) is gidayu-bushi
• Nagauta often has (non-vocal) instrumental interludes. This is opportunity for virtuosic shamisen playing