LESSON 1:
JAPANESE MUSIC
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF
JAPAN
• Traditional Japanese music is basically
meditative in character. Its
performance is highly ritualized, as
much in the music itself, as in the
composure of the musicians when
performing it. Japanese chamber and
solo music have a slow meditative
pace.
•The performance of Japanese music
has traditionally been of a spiritual
character, similarly to martial arts
and other forms of art such as the
tea ceremony and calligraphy. It is
usually about religious festivals,
work, dance, love, and regional
songs.
PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS
(MEMBRANOPHONE):
1. Odaiko- (big drum).
The physical energy and
sheer excitement of an
Odaiko performance is an
integral part of many
Japanese matsuri
(festivals).
TSUZUMI (HOURGLASS-
SHAPE)
• There are two varieties,
the smaller kotsuzumi
and the larger otsuzumi.
The kotsuzumi is held on
the right shoulder and the
player alters the tone by
squeezing the laces.
The otsuzumi is placed on
the left thigh.
kotsuzumii
otsuzumi
3.
TSURIDAIK
O – A LARGE
HANGING
BARREL DRUM
4. TAIKO - IS A JAPANESE DRUM THAT COMES IN
VARIOUS SIZES AND IS USED TO PLAY A VARIETY OF
MUSICAL GENRES.
STRING
1. Koto - is a 13-string INSTRUMENTS
zither, about two meters (CHORDOPHONE)
long and made of
Paulownia wood. It is
plucked using picks on the
thumb and first two
fingers of the right hand,
while the left hand can be
used to modify pitch and
tone. Koto is used in an
ensemble in gagaku or as
a solo instrument.
2. SHAMISEN
• The neck of
the shamisen
is fretless, and
is slimmer
than that of a
guitar or a
banjo.
3. BIWA - IS A
JAPANESE SHORT-
NECKED FRETTED
LUTE, OFTEN USED
IN NARRATIVE
STORYTELLING.
WIND INSTRUMENTS
(AEROPHONE)
1. Shakuhachi- the most famous flute
made from bamboo. It has 4 or 5 finger
holes on the front face and a thumbhole
on the rear face.
2. NOKAN - A PARALLEL, BAMBOO
FLUTE (FUE) IS THE ONLY MELODIC
INSTRUMENT USED IN NOH.
3. HICHIRIKI - IS A
DOUBLE REED
JAPANESE FUE (FLUTE)
USED AS ONE OF TWO
MAIN MELODIC
INSTRUMENTS IN
JAPANESE GAGAKU
MUSIC.
4. SHO - IS A
JAPANESE FREE REED
MUSICAL
INSTRUMENT THAT
WAS INTRODUCED
FROM CHINA DURING
THE NARA PERIOD.
5. SHINOBUE – ALSO
CALLED TAKEBUE IN
THE CONTEXT OF
JAPANESE TRADITIONAL
ARTS) IS A JAPANESE
TRANSVERSE FLUTE OR
FUE THAT HAS A HIGH-
PITCHED SOUND.
6. RYŪTEKI - LITERALLY "DRAGON FLUTE"
IS A JAPANESE TRANSVERSE FUE MADE OF
BAMBOO. IT IS USED IN GAGAKU.
