Traditional Music“maximum effect from minimal materials”

• YouTube - Shamisen, koto e shakuhachi

• YouTube - Japanese traditional music

• YouTube - Traditional Japanese Music on old Instruments

• YouTube - Chikutoukai Recital (1)

• YouTube - Chikutoukai Recital (2)

• YouTube - Koto & Shamisen Performance Nov. 18, 2007 AKP 07-08

Terms to Know

• Hogaku – traditional Japanese music• Sanyoku (Instruments)

- Shamisen- Koto- Shakuhachi

• Pentatonic – 5-note scale• Heterophony – nearly identical versions of

the same melody at the same time (not monophonic and not quite polyphonic)

Koto

Ex. Japanese Koto "Tegoto" by Michio Miyagi ＜ 手事・第三章＞宮城道雄作曲 - YouTube

Shamisen

EX. YouTube - shamisen - tsugaru yosare bushi

Shakuhachi

Ex. YouTube - Shakuhachi in Mamanji, Japan

Ex. YouTube - Tomoe Kaneko Shakuhachi Performance

Ex. YouTube - Tadashi Tajima, Shakuhachi Flute, Osaka, Japan

“Rokudan No Shirabe”

• “Roku” = six, “dan” = columns(“Music of the six steps”)

• Yatsuhashi Kengyō (1614-1685), composer• Examples

- Rokudan no Shirabe (六段の調) – YouTube (textbook example?)- Japanese Koto Concert - Fuyuki Enokido plays "Rokudan no Shirabe" – YouTube (solo koto)- Rokudan No Shirabe – YouTube (two shakuhachi)- Rokudan no Shirabe Music in Six Variations – YouTube (multiple kotos)-ROKUDAN (koto piece) on shamisen + fue – YouTube (shamisen and fue [flute])

• Textbook Listening Guide (p. 151)

Jiuta• Hogaku – song w/ instruments

• Instrumental interludes• Examples

- 2010.2.28 かすみ姉妹ミニ和ライブ(2) 「八千代獅子」 Yachiyo Jishi – YouTube (koto,

shamisen, & voices)- Jiuta – YouTube (voice, koto, w/ Kabuki dancer)- Jiuta au Châtelet – YouTube (voice, koto, dancer)

• Textbook Listening Guide (p. 152) : “Chidori”

Japanese Theater

• Kabuki – Traditional Theater (popular)Exs. Kabuki – YouTube (a good introduction) Centre Stage: Kabuki – YouTube (overview)

• Bunraku – Puppet TheaterEx. YouTube - Bunraku theater in Osaka

• Noh – Traditional Theater (elitist)Ex. Noh Theatre - YouTube

Kabuki

• Originates in late 16th century (1596)

• All female performers (immediately banned)

• Replaced by male performers- includes “onnagata” (female impersonator)

• Primarily dance theater w/ colorful costumes

• Audience – traditionally middle-class

• Music – includes three different ensembles

Kabuki Actors/Dancers

Kabuki Dancer(note Debayashi in background)

Kabuki Actor

Kabuki “onnagata”

Kabuki Music

• Geza (off-stage) – sound effects (o-daiko, other percussion, shamisen, nohkan)

• Chobo (stage left) – “narrator” (“speaker” and shamisen)

• Debayashi (stage rear) – literally, the “coming out orchestra” (multiple singers, shamisens, drums, nohkan)

Nagauta (Kabuki ensemble)

Nagauta (Kabuki ensemble)

Shamisen

Nohkan

Kotsuzumi

Otsuzumi

Noh Drum (Taiko)