日本音楽


Track 1:

 JAPAN: AEROPHONE
"Sanya" (Three villages) — "Shakuhachi" (2.4-foot Shakuhachi)
Track 2:

 JAPAN: CHORDOPHONE, "Godanginuta" (Five variations) - 2 "Kotos" (Japanese zither). A frequently performed koto duet from the mid-19th century. "Godan" means five variations.
Track 3:

 JAPAN: CHORDOPHONE, "Mushi no Aikata" (Insect interlude) - "Shamisen" (Japanese lute)
Track 4:

 JAPANESE ENSEMBLE. "Azuma Jishi"(Jiuta), (voice, shakuhachi, shamisen, koto). This is an excerpt from a late-18th-century composition that lasts 25 min. in its entirely.
Track 5:

 JAPANESE GAGAKU. "Manzairaku." A masterpiece of Gagaku, it is classified as heavy music and as such is performed  exclusively for the formal ceremonies of the Court. It is danced majestically by four dancers attired in bird costume. The music is said to stimulate the voice of a bird which once flew to an Emperor saluting him with the cry of "banzai."
Track 6:

 JAPAN: MEMBRANOPHONE & IDIOPHONE: Kodo performance.
Track 7:

 JAPAN - GOSHORAKU
This title refers to the five principles of Confucianism. Composed in the early 17th century, it became a highly venerated composition. In contrast of the basic construction of Gagaku pieces, this composition is in four movements.
1st movement (0'00'): "Jo" (introduction), is the prelude.
2nd movement (0'30"): "Ei" (chant) the music becomes more melodic and the tempo faster.
3rd movement: "Ha" (breaking), is comparable to the "scherzo" movements in Western symphonic works.
4th movements: "Kur" (quick) is the rapid progression to the denouement in the finale of the piece.
The tones based on the five Confucian principles are similar to e, f sharp, a, b and C sharp and are called kyu, shop, kaku, chi and u.