Classical Music of Japan

various artists compilation - Classical Music of Japan

LP released in 1965

Notes by Katsumasa Takasago and Jac Holzman:

KABUKI MUSIC

Kabuki, one of the most popular theatricals of Japan, was originated by a Shinto dancer, Okuni, a lady from Izumo. Okuni made her debut on the bank of the Kamo River in Kyoto in 1596 and word of her popularity spread all over the country. She attracted the audience with dances notes for their erotic gestures. The government prohibited the performance by women (mostly prostitutes) in the middle 17th century and since then, actresses have been completely excluded and today, men play women's roles in Kabuki.
The themes of the Kabuki dramas deal with warriors in the older feudalistic society. The relationships of pity, sympathy, obedience and devotion between masters and their men are stressed.
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Kanjincho, one of the most famous Kabuki dramas, was written about a hundred and twenty years ago specifically for an actor named Ebizo Ichikawa. When the curtain rises, three border guards are on the stage and the chief guard orders his men to capture Yoshitsune of the Genji family. Benkei, the protector of Yoshitsune, disguising himself as a mountain priest, tries to cross the border with Yoshitsune and several other men.
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The musical selection in this album is the dancing scene of Benkei taken from Kanjincho.

KOTO

Before Imperial Court Music was introduced to the West, koto was the only music of Japan widely known. Koto music pervades Japanese life and derives, as does so much of Japanese music, from the Chinese. It became the "national" Japanese instrument early in the 17th century. However, there are not many serious artists of the koto. Koto, like flower arrangement or the tea ceremony, was one of the required aspects of pre-marital education for Japanese girls. Through koto, they were supposed to learn elegance in manner, and thus the value of koto music from the artistic standpoint was veneered by this form of popularity.
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Hiyaku, a composition for two kotos, composed by Genchi Hisamoto in 1931, is in the form of a rondo. This lively piece consists of three sections and a prelude. The short prelude is followed by the second movement in 4/6 time, and the third movement is in 2/4. The fourth movement, in 2/4 time, gradually accelerates in tempo, the two kotos "weaving" the musical line together.

GAGAKU (IMPERIAL COURT MUSIC)

Imperial Court Music called Gagaku (in translation, "elegant music") was brought primarily from China about 1400 years ago and is now regarded as the oldest instrumental music in Japan. The performers were predominantly the members of the music department (Gagakusho) of the Imperial Household. Under the feudalistic society of ancient Japan, the common people were not allowed to participate in the performance nor were they even allowed to hear this music, a circumstance which was not changed until the end of the 19th century.
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The selection included here is called Bairo and it is one of the most famous traditional pieces. The performers are the Heian Imperial Court Music Orchestra playing koto, sho, hichiriki, fue, kakko, and biwa.

KAGURA (SHRINE MUSIC)

There are innumerable kinds of Kagura, some performed in court, some in Buddhist temples, some in Shinto shrines (widely scattered in Japan), some in far-away mountain temples. What is common to all kagura, however, is that the music is dedicated to gods; Miya-kagura, meaning music dedicated to the gods of the Imperial Court and Sato-kagura being music dedicated to gods in shrines in local areas. Shrine music is designated for the piety of the common people, while Miya-kagura is limited to the piety of gods of the Imperial Household.

Sat-kagura (Shrine music), however, is a mixture of court music and folk music. Shrines are sacred places for the common people, who used to frequent them on various festival days to pray for security, prosperity and success. Such practices, however, are disappearing so fast that the research on the subject is becoming increasingly difficult.

A few centuries ago, the Kagura repertoire was large, but today only a few authentic pieces are still heard. These are Haya-kagura (shrine music in quick tempo), Sato-kagura (music in local shrines), Tsurugi (sword music and dance), and Tsurukame (Crane and Tortoise). Tsurugi makes an interesting contrast with Haya-kagura. The former is slow and serious while the latter is quick and cheerful. Tsurugi includes an elegant sword dance which must have originated in an ancient time, its artistic form being stablized in ensuing years. A dancer, usually called Miko (a divine lady) is selected from among the young virgins of a village, dances on the stage of a nearby shrine with a sword accompanied by music played on drum, flute and cymbal.

GEZA MUSIC

Geza is a generic term which may include any kind of music required for any operatic performance. Geza means "left side of the stage" and musicians usually play this music behind a screen unseen by the audience. Today Geza music is used for almost any theatricals or operatic performances. Yet its unique existence is coupled with performances of medieval dramas, in which the Geza band becomes most important and effective. The Geza band produces various kinds of sound effects by means of musical instruments: the sounds of waves, snow, ghosts and dozens of other short pieces. Naturally, their function is to make the scene more dramatic and vivid.
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The first three pieces, called Daibyoshi, are played for festival scenes. The beginning piece is played by flute, shamisen, big drum, small drum and cymbal. The second piece is played by flute, small drum and big drum, and the third piece by shamisen, flute, bell and drum.

SHAKUHACHI

Shakuhachi is the traditional bamboo flute music of Japan, played by Buddhist priests of the Fuke sect. The Fuke sect derived from the Zen sect which originated in China and was officially brought to Japan in 1255. The chief doctrine of the Fuke sect is expressed by a verse of four lines: "Not attached to the light Nor to the darkness, Everything that arises from every region Shall be freely and closely experienced."
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The selection featured in this recording, Hontechoshi, is played with a flute more than two feet in length. Hontechoshi means "fundamental tones." This short piece is frequently studied by beginning students of the shakuhachi. This music is accompanied by two kinds of hand bells - kei and rei (one smaller than the other) - and the reading of Hannyashingyo (heart sutra), one of the main sutras of the Zen sect. The music is played by Asakura and Tanikita of the Meianji Temple. The reading is by Keiun Hirazumi.

FLUTE CONCERTO

The flute concerto, Tsumikusa, composed by Kikuhara in 1908, is taken from his "Four Seasons" in which "Clouds" depicts summerl "Moon," fall; "Snow," winter; and Tsumikusa, which means "Picking Wild Flowers" is dedicated to the spring season. Its folk quality and its gaiety made it popular during the Meiji era (1868-1912).

MIBU-KYOGEN MUSIC

Mibu-Kyogen is a category of pantomime play created in the year 761 by a Buddhist priest which has been performed in the Mibu Temple (Kyoto) every year since that time. The sound of the bg bell, drum and flute of Kyogen is believed to be the harbinger of spring for the people of the ancient capital. The pantomime takes place in April in the main hall of the Mibu Temple and thousands of tourists come to see the colorful costumes and hear this ancient music. The performance is not so polished as that of the Imperial Court Dance or dances at shrines. The music is taken from folk music of various areas.
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These selections are "festival tunes" and "shrine music," both of which are representative pieces of Mibu-Kyogen music.



Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Kyoto Kabuki Orchestra - Kanjincho {7:07}

2. Ikeda and her "Co-operatives" - Hiyaku {3:32}

3. Heian Imperial Court Music Orchestra - Bairo {6:05}

4. Kasai family - Sato kagura {1:57}

5. Kasai family - Tsurugi {6:14}

Side 2

1. Kyoto Geza Band - Daibyoshi {8:46}

2. Meianji priests - Hontechoshi {5:23}

3. Ikead and her "Co-operatives" - Tsumikusa {11:56}

4. Staff for the Preservation of Mibu Kyogen - Festival tunes Shrine tunes (Yudate Kagura) {3:35}

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