Traditional Japanese Music Primer

Have you ever found yourself sitting in a Japanese restaurant listening to some melodious stringed music or an atmospheric flute and said, "I have to get a hold of some of this!" Then, by the time you returned home--feeling sleepy and on a full stomach--completely forgot to investigate further? Perhaps you heard some cool music in a Japanese movie, but had no idea who performed it or how the music was made. If so, you have come to the right place, because this post presents three excellent collections designed to introduce listeners to a wide variety of traditional Japanese music genres. Give one of these suggestions a try, then follow up by going deeper into the styles you like best and you will be on your way toward fulfilling that vow you made to yourself before gorging on sushi.

(Disclaimer: Clicking on any of the album titles will open new pages where you can listen to samples of the music. I do not endorse or receive financial benefits from any of these retailers. The links are provided for your convenience.)

The best place to start is with Ensemble Nipponia's classic Japan: Kabuki and Other Traditional Music. Recorded in 1978, excellent production ensures that this collection still sounds fresh over thirty years later.  Three of the pieces are classic kabuki numbers complete with hyoshigi (wooden clappers) knocking to announce the beginning of the performance, invigorating vocals, and stirring tempo changes. The performance of "Kanjincho" included here clocks in at just over ten minutes, explaining why this form is called nagauta (long song).

The nagauta pieces are broken up with two more reflective songs. "Ataka no Matsu" features a shinobue flute accompanied by the three stringed shamisen, and "Shirabe Sagariha" is a piece for two shakuhachi (bamboo flutes) which many in the West associate with Zen Buddhists--appropriate since they introduced the instrument to Japan.

"Shirabe Sagariha" is followed by the dramatic biwa classic, "Atsumori," which mourns the death of a young warrior from the losing side in the 12th century Genpei war. It is difficult to describe the power of the biwa when accompanied by the right vocalist. The closest I can come is to say it sounds like epic poetry set to music. If the thought of this appeals to you, my next post will exclusively feature biwa recordings, so watch for that.

The last two songs are contemporary pieces that fit in so well with the collection that musical historians should not object to their inclusion. "Hanayagi" is a fine example of koto music. Imagine the sound and look of a curved rectangular board strung with piano strings and you will have a fair idea what to expect from the koto. "Satto" features cymbals in a song that sounds like it could be used in the background of a whimsical kabuki dance.

Ensemble Nipponia's Japan Traditional Vocal and Instrumental Music is similar in scope to Kabuki, but the distant sound in the recording doesn't do the music the same justice. Nonetheless, it still serves its purpose as a primer for a listener deciding which genres they prefer. Most of the songs are reflective pieces featuring the shakuhachi and koto, but two standouts deserve a mention. The biwa composition included here is "Ogi no Moto," which shares a story similar to the William Tell folktale. "Ozatsuma" is a spirited shamisen piece that sounds ready made for a geisha dance at Gion Odori.

From Kyoto to Tokyo | Japan features an assortment of artists with a strong emphasis on the shakuhachi, koto, and shamisen. There is a fine example of nagauta for kabuki fans called "Kuruwa", but the real gem in the collection is "Edo Matsuri." Most examples of festival music I have heard were recorded live and not necessarily under the best conditions. "Edo Matsuri" is a studio track played with such immediacy that it will evoke memories of celebratory town festivals in all who have ever had the good fortune to observe or participate in one.



For some, one of these albums might be enough to satisfy your interest in traditional Japanese music. If, however, you find yourself being drawn in by one of the musical styles featured here, consider subscribing to the RSS feed or following me on twitter (@travisbelrose) so that you don't miss a future post on biwa, nagauta, shakuhachi, koto, taiko, and shamisen music. I'll do my best to steer you toward the best examples in each form that I've encountered in ten years of collecting.

Travis Belrose is the author of The Samurai Poet, a work of historical fiction set in 17th century Japan. Learn more here.