Japanese Traditional Music - GAGAKU

This is an album of traditional Japanese gagaku music, with the full traditional ensemble. The album contains works of all of the major categories of gagaku, kangen (solely instrumental), bugaku samai (dances of the Left-Chinese origin), and bugaku umai (dances of the Right-Korean origin). Also included is "Azuma Asobi," a song of native Japanese origin. The music is performed by Kunaicho Gakubu, which is the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency, the Imperial court musicians, who all have a relatively large amount of experience under their belts. The music is representative of all gagaku music, with the sho's (mouth organs) placing a quasi-melody under the music, and the hichiriki (oboes) providing a somber melody. The music of gagaku is nearly always given in an almost otherworldly way, and this is no exception. There are other recordings of gagaku out there, but this one is relatively similar to all of them. Lyrichord's album of the Kyoto Imperial Court Orchestra may be the best recording for those new to the sound, as it reprises both the ritualistic side of the music as well as the artistic side, but this one isn't bad either.

Track Listing
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(01) [Japanese Traditional Music] ETENRAKU - HYOUJOU NETORI
(02) [Japanese Traditional Music] ETENRAKU - ETENRAKU
(03) [Japanese Traditional Music] KISHUNRAKU - OUSHIKICHOU CHOUSHI
(04) [Japanese Traditional Music] KISHUNRAKU - KISHUNRAKU NO JO
(05) [Japanese Traditional Music] KISHUNRAKU - KISHUNRAKU NO HA
(06) [Japanese Traditional Music] SEIGAIHA - BANSHIKICHOU NETORI
(07) [Japanese Traditional Music] SEIGAIHA - SEIGAIHA
(08) [Japanese Traditional Music] KITOKU - KOMA ICHIKOTSUCHOU KONETORI
(09) [Japanese Traditional Music] KITOKU - KITOKU NO HA
(10) [Japanese Traditional Music] KITOKU - KITOKU NO KYUU
(11) [Japanese Traditional Music] AZUMAASOBI - MOTOMEKO NO UTADASHI
(12) [Japanese Traditional Music] AZUMAASOBI - MOTOMEKO NO UTA


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Click Here to Download Part - 2