The concert given by the Tenri University (Nara, Japan) Gagaku Music Society on Friday, 16 September 2011 at the SOAS Brunei Gallery, was extraordinary for several reasons. The performers were all students, giving excellent renditions of several ancient musics; and the inclusion of Gigaku and Saibara in the programme was an unusual treat.
Japanese Imperial Court Music
The music tradition of the current Japanese Imperial Court harks back to the 7th century, when the Nara Court petitioned the Chinese Tang Court to share its ritual music with them. The Chinese instead sent them banquet music! Inappropriately lively, this music was gradually slowed down over the centuries to become the stately music of Gagaku today. It consists of an ensemble composed of traditional instruments: decorated drums, the biwa lute and sho mouth organs (photo) as well as stringed zithers, an oboe-like double-reed instrument, several horizontal flutes, and wooden clappers. The music is slow-moving but ethereal, with the sho providing an atmosphere of celestial radiance.
Gagaku performed by Tenri University Gagaku Music Society
Tenri-kyo, a "new religion" of Japan, was established in 1838. The church—whose headquarters are in Tenri City, Nara—developed its own unique ritual music, but at that time Gagaku was restricted to the Imperial Court, daimyos’ palaces and various temples and shrines. When restrictions were removed in the 1870s, Tenri was quick to add Gagaku to its musical repertoire in the interests of further dignification and respect. In 1951, the student Gagaku Music Society at the church's Tenri University was founded in order to popularize the genre, which includes three performance styles: instrumental music, vocal music, and dance. The dances were originally imported from both China and Korea and are referred to collectively as Bugaku. Many of the London performers had studied since high school, becoming consummate dancers of Bugaku.
Gigaku is another dance tradition introduced from Korea in the 7th century and subsumed under Gagaku. It died out before modern times but was revived between 1980 and 1990, with the Gagaku Music Society restoring the majority of the known Gigaku pieces. In London, the dance piece "Karura", referring to phoenix Garuda of Indian mythology, was mimed excellently to portray the bird eating sown seeds, then being hacked by farmers with their hoes, appealing to the gods for help, and finally healing and reforming to eat mole crickets to aid the farmers instead.
Saibara is an ancient tradition of singing — originally folk and popular songs adopted by the aristocracy. Similar to Gigaku, Saibara died out in the pre-modern period but a few were revived thereafter. Recently, the Gagaku Music Society has tried to revive one new song a year, performing "Koromagae" (meaning 'a seasonal change of clothing') in London.
SOAS—Tenri Memorandum of Agreement
The cooperative document signed between the School of Oriental and African Studies and Tenri University foretells increased exchange of personnel and activities in future, particularly with the Centre for Japanese Religious Studies at SOAS. In honour of this agreement, the Gagaku dancer who danced the piece "Bato" presented his mask to the Centre Director. Gagaku performances or workshops might become possible within this cooperative framework, providing Londoners more chances in future to view this ancient Japanese music tradition.
Sources:
"Gagaku: introduction of Gagaku and Gagaku instruments"
"Gagaku: The 22nd Goodwill Concert Tour (the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Kingdom)"
These pamphlets are very informative; copies can be obtained by contacting:
Gagaku Music Society of Tenri University
1050 Somanouchi, Tenri, Nara 632-8510, Japan
Tel/Fax +81(0)743-63-4945
email: gagakubu@gmail.com
Their website unfortunately is in Japanese but worth looking at just for the pictures!
Gina Barnes - A retired academic of anthropology, archaeology, geology, and Japanese Studies, with other avid interests....
