Nippon Gagaku Kai - Gagaku: Ancient Japanese Court Music - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Gagaku is a type of Japanese classical music that has been performed at the Imperial court for several centuries. The oldest classical music in Japan, Gagaku was introduced into Japan with Buddhism from the Korean Peninsula. Wind, string and percussion instruments are essential elements of Gagaku music. This recording is an excellent example of this ancient, yet elegant music. Digitally remastered. Album Tracks 1. Goshoraku No Kyu (Hyojo) 2. Etenraku, Nokorigaku Sanben (Hyojo) 3. Jussuiraku (Oshiki-Cho) 4. Keibairaku No Kyu (Taishiki-Cho) 5. Shukosho (Adjo) 6. Senshuraku (Hanshiki-Cho)

Japan owes it's music, as it's culture in general, to the Chinese. Not only, however, have the Japanese actively developed this heritage, but they have also preserved many elements of older Chinese music which have been lost in it's home country. The most important instrument of Japanese art-music is the koto, the Japanese variety of the Chinese ch'in. Other instruments directly taken over from China are the sho (Chinese sheng), the biwa (Chinese pip'a). More strictly indigenous instruments are the samisen, a guitar used by street singers and geishas; the hichiriki, an oboe (not a flute) with a characteristic metal disk encircling the mouthpiece; the kokyu, similar in shape to the samisen, but bowed; and the shakuhachi, a long flute of ancient origin which calls for an especially difficult technique of blowing. Presented here is one of the finest Koto ensembles, playing the ancient music as it has sounded for centuries, with great respect for tradition, providing one of the best representations of the music available on recording anywhere. Classic recording, digitally remastered. Album Tracks 1. Rokudan 2. Midare 3. Godan-Kinuta 4. Chidori 5. Haru-No-Kyoku

Album Tracks 1. Sado Okesa 2. Waka 3. B*tch? Kagura 4. B*tch? Kagura (Cont.) 5. ?Miya Odori 6. Shimotsui-Bushi 7. Kagura-Bayashi 8. Ashimori Ondo 9. Ishiya-Bushi 10. Itokuri-Uta 11. Maritsuki-Uta 12. Shiraisi Odori 13. Shiraisi Odori (Cont.) 14. Shiraishi Odori 15. Shiraishi Odori (Cont.) 16. Urashima Odori