• Japanese Traditional Instrumental Music Mp3 Free Download

Japanese music includes a wide array of distinct music styles both traditional and modern. Two of the oldest forms of traditional Japanese music are Buddhist chanting (shomyo), and orchestral court music (gagaku), both of which date to the Nara and Heian periods. The royalty free japanese loops, samples and sounds listed here have been kindly uploaded by other users and are free to use in your project. If you use any of these japanese loops please leave your comments. Read the loops section of the help area for more information on how you can use the loops. The Japanese traditions of narrative and instrumental music exist independently of one another but flow together in the music of the Japanese theater. This album features four of the most popular dance pieces from the Kabuki stage, an excerpt from one of the great narrative epics, and music from three purely instrumental traditions.

Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Theatrical [ ] Japan has several theatrical forms of drama in which music plays a significant role. The main forms are kabuki and noh. Noh [ ] ( 能) or nōgaku ( 能楽) music is a type of theatrical music. Noh music is played by an instrumental ensemble called hayashi-kata ( 囃子方). The instruments used are the ( 太鼓) stick drum, a big hourglass shaped drum called the ( 大鼓), a smaller hourglass shaped drum called the ( 小鼓), and a bamboo flute called the ( 能管).

The hayashi ensemble is performed along with, vocal music, in noh theater. Kabuki [ ] (歌舞伎) is a type of Japanese.

It is known for its highly stylized dancing and singing as well as the elaborate make-up worn by the predominately all male cast. The first instances of kabuki used the hayashi from noh performances.

Later on, kabuki began incorporating other instruments like the. The music of kabuki can be divided into three categories: geza, shosa-ongaku, and ki and tsuke. Geza [ ] Geza includes music and sound effects played on stage right, behind a black bamboo curtain called a kuromisu.

Geza music can be further subdivided into three types. The first type is uta or song. Uta is sung in accompaniment to shamisen playing.

Typically there are multiple uta singers singing together. The second type is called aikata. It involves shamisen music without any singing.

The third type is narimono. Narimono is played by musical instruments besides the shamisen. Shosa-ongaku [ ] Shosa-ongaku encompasses music that is played on the stage and accompanies acting and dancing. Shosa-ongaku includes the Takemoto, Nagauta, Tokiwazu and Kiyomoto music styles. Takemoto accompanies acting.

Nagauta, Tokiwazu and Kiyomoto accompany dancing in kabuki. Takemoto basically recites the parts of the play concerning scenery. The actors attempt to synchronize their lines with the rhythm of takemoto- an effect known as 'ito ni noru' (get onto strings). Naguata is one of the most commonly seen forms of geza. It involves singers, called utakata, and shamisen players, called shamisenkata.

Japanese Traditional Instrumental Music Mp3 Free Download

The utakata are seated stage right of the dancing and the shamisenkata are seated stage left. The shamisenkata use hosozao (thin neck) shamisen which produce high pitched tones and are capable of producing delicate melodies. Tokiwazu consists of reciters called tayu and shamisenkata that use chuzao (medium-neck) shamisen. Tokiwazu is similar to Kiyomoto music but it is slower-paced and more solemn. Tokiwazu is also performed onstage. Kiyomoto also consists of tayu and shamisenkata using chuzao.