Gagaku - The Imperial Court Music of Japan

Various
Lyrichord - LLST 7126

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Artist
1	Irite		03'32
	(prelude) This brief drum-bell and flute composition is a prelude co Bugaku dances. The beat of the drum marks the steps of the dancers, and the same music is played as an epilogue for dancers co withdraw from the stage.
2	Etenraku	越天楽	07'57
	The best-known of all the Gagaku repertoire, its music was frequently used as an accompaniment co the popular songs (imayo) of the Heian Period (794-1185). The composition consists of three melodic phrases, thirty-two slow beats each. The tide . means "music of divinity" and is played by wind, string and percussion instruments in the basic tone of e.
3	Manzai Raku	万歳楽	08'43
	A masterpiece of Gagaku, it is classified as heavy music (taikyoku) and as such is performed exclusively for the formal ceremonies of the Court. It is danced majestically by four dancers attired in bird costumes. The music is said co simulate the voice of a bird called ho which once flew co an Emperor saluting him with the cry of "banzai".
4	Embu		02'39
	A sword dance performed at the beginning of a program for the purpose of purification. The music and dance is based on the legend of a Chinese Emperor who tried co conquer his enemy and dedicated the performance to God.
5	Hassen		04'28
	Known as the music of the crane dances, it is based on a legend of Central China. Eight hermits (hassen) came down from the mountains to the capitol during the Han Dynasty. The hermits were transformed into four cranes. The four dancers wear masks that represent the faces of cranes. A small bell hangs from each mask and its sound symbolizes the voice of the crane. At one point the four dancers form a circle holding each other's sleeves, representing the flight of the birds. The music is in quadruple form and the basic tone is e.
6	Nasori		02'00
	Nasori is a dragon dance, dedicated to the victors in sports and games. Classified as light music (shokyoku), it describes a male and a female dragon dancing blissfully together. The second movement (Nasorikyu) combines a duple and quadruple beat. The basic tone is d-sharp.
7	Goshoraku		06'10
	The tide refers co the five principles of Confucianism. Composed in the early Seventh Century, it became a highly venerated composition. in contrast co the basic construction of Gagaku pieces, this composition is in four movements. The first movement, called Jo (introduction), is the prelude. In the second movement, Ei (chant) the music becomes more melodic and the tempo faster. The third movement, Ha, meaning "breaking," is comparable co the scherzo movement in Western symphonic works. The last movement, kyu ( quick) is the rapid progression co the denouement in the finale of the piece. Large pieces in the gagaku repertoire usually follow the three-movement jo-ha-kyu form. Smaller compositions tend co have only a ha and kyu formation. The tones based on the Five Confucian principles are similar to e, f sharp, a, b, and c sharp and are called kyu, sho, kaku, chi, and u, The last movement is often performed as an independent piece in concerts.
8	Karyobin		06'13
	Heard not only in courts but also in temples, the music was brought from India by priests. The karyobin is a bird which was native co India. The basic tone is d.