Gagaku

A gagaku performance at the Sankeien in Yokohama

• 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).

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.

References

• Gallery labels, Metropolitan Museum of Art.