Gagaku
- Japanese: 雅楽 (gagaku)
Gagaku is the classical court music of the Japanese Imperial court. It derives significantly from continental court music, and was adopted by the Japanese court as the official genre or style of court music in 701.
Gagaku is divided into two sub-categories, representing the two main threads of continental influence. Musical elements derived from Chinese influence are known as Tôgaku (Tang music) and those from Korean influence komagaku (Koryo music). With the influence and incorporation of native Japanese elements, gagaku is said to have developed into its mature form in the 10th century.
Instruments used in gagaku include the biwa (a stringed lute), a variety of flutes including the shô, ryûteki, hichiriki, and komabue, and a variety of drums, including the kakko and tsuridaiko, as well as bells, gongs, and occasionally koto. Performances are often accompanied by masked & costumed dances.
Gagaku as performed by musicians of the Imperial Household Agency was named an Intangible Important Cultural Property in 1955, and in 2009 was named an important Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
References
- Gallery labels, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Gallery labels, Tokyo Imperial Palace.[1]
