Pentatonic scaleA pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave, in contrast to heptatonic scales, which have seven notes per octave (such as the major scale and minor scale). Pentatonic scales were developed independently by many ancient civilizations and are still used in various musical styles to this day.In scaleThe in scale (also known as the Sakura pentatonic scale due to its use in the well-known folk song Sakura Sakura) is one of two pentatonic scales commonly used in Japanese folk music, excluding gagaku and Buddhist shōmyō. The in scale is used specifically in music for the koto and shamisen and is contrasted with the yo scale.Interval (music)In music theory, an interval is a difference in pitch between two sounds. An interval may be described as horizontal, linear, or melodic if it refers to successively sounding tones, such as two adjacent pitches in a melody, and vertical or harmonic if it pertains to simultaneously sounding tones, such as in a chord. In Western music, intervals are most commonly differencing between notes of a diatonic scale.Popular musicPopular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training. As a kind of popular art, it stands in contrast to art music. Art music was historically disseminated through the performances of written music, although since the beginning of the recording industry, it is also disseminated through recordings.
Dorian modeThe Dorian mode or Doric mode can refer to three very different but interrelated subjects: one of the ancient harmoniai (characteristic melodic behaviour, or the scale structure associated with it); one of another ancient musical modes; or—most commonly—one of the modern modal diatonic scales, corresponding to the piano keyboard's white notes from D to D, or any transposition of itself. Audio playback is not supported in your browser.Folk musicFolk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music.
SemitoneAudio playback is not supported in your browser. You can download the audio file.A diatonic semitone, or minor secondIn Western music theory, a semitone (also called a half step or half tone) is one of two parts into which a whole tone is divided. Semitones are the smallest intervals commonly harmonically and melodically used in Western music, and are among the most dissonant intervals when sounded harmonically.
GagakuGagaku (雅楽, lit. "elegant music") is a type of Japanese classical music that was historically used for imperial court music and dances. Gagaku was developed as court music of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and its near-current form was established in the Heian period (794–1185) around the 10th century. Today, it is performed by the Board of Ceremonies in the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Gagaku is performed using wind, percussion, and string instruments.
Perfect fourthA fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions in the music notation of Western culture, and a perfect fourth (Play) is the fourth spanning five semitones (half steps, or half tones). For example, the ascending interval from C to the next F is a perfect fourth, because the note F is the fifth semitone above C, and there are four staff positions between C and F. Audio playback is not supported in your browser.
ShōmyōShōmyō (声明) is a style of JapaneseBuddhist chant, used mainly in the Tendai and Shingon traditions. There are two styles: ryokyoku (呂曲) and rikkyoku (律曲), described as difficult and easy to remember, respectively. Shōmyō, like gagaku, employs the yo scale, a pentatonic scale with ascending intervals of two, three, two, two, and three semitones.
Min'yōMin'yō (民謡), Nihon min'yō, Japanese min'yō or Japanese folk music is a genre of traditional Japanese music. CharacteristicsStylesMany min'yō are connected to forms of work or to specific trades and were originally sung between work or for specific jobs. Other min'yō function simply as entertainment, as dance accompaniment, or as a components of religious rituals.
Music of JapanIn Japan, music includes a wide array of distinct genres, both traditional and modern. The word for "music" in Japanese is 音楽 (ongaku), combining the kanji 音 on (sound) with the kanji 楽 gaku (music, comfort). Japan is the world's largest market for music on physical media and the second-largest overall music market, with a retail value of US$2.7 billion in 2017.
Dorian modeThe Dorian mode or Doric mode can refer to three very different but interrelated subjects: one of the ancient harmoniai (characteristic melodic behaviour, or the scale structure associated with it); one of another ancient musical modes; or—most commonly—one of the modern modal diatonic scales, corresponding to the piano keyboard's white notes from D to D, or any transposition of itself. Audio playback is not supported in your browser.Folk musicFolk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music.SemitoneAudio playback is not supported in your browser. You can download the audio file.A diatonic semitone, or minor secondIn Western music theory, a semitone (also called a half step or half tone) is one of two parts into which a whole tone is divided. Semitones are the smallest intervals commonly harmonically and melodically used in Western music, and are among the most dissonant intervals when sounded harmonically.GagakuGagaku (雅楽, lit. "elegant music") is a type of Japanese classical music that was historically used for imperial court music and dances. Gagaku was developed as court music of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and its near-current form was established in the Heian period (794–1185) around the 10th century. Today, it is performed by the Board of Ceremonies in the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Gagaku is performed using wind, percussion, and string instruments.Perfect fourthA fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions in the music notation of Western culture, and a perfect fourth (Play) is the fourth spanning five semitones (half steps, or half tones). For example, the ascending interval from C to the next F is a perfect fourth, because the note F is the fifth semitone above C, and there are four staff positions between C and F. Audio playback is not supported in your browser.ShōmyōShōmyō (声明) is a style of JapaneseBuddhist chant, used mainly in the Tendai and Shingon traditions. There are two styles: ryokyoku (呂曲) and rikkyoku (律曲), described as difficult and easy to remember, respectively. Shōmyō, like gagaku, employs the yo scale, a pentatonic scale with ascending intervals of two, three, two, two, and three semitones.Min'yōMin'yō (民謡), Nihon min'yō, Japanese min'yō or Japanese folk music is a genre of traditional Japanese music. CharacteristicsStylesMany min'yō are connected to forms of work or to specific trades and were originally sung between work or for specific jobs. Other min'yō function simply as entertainment, as dance accompaniment, or as a components of religious rituals.Music of JapanIn Japan, music includes a wide array of distinct genres, both traditional and modern. The word for "music" in Japanese is 音楽 (ongaku), combining the kanji 音 on (sound) with the kanji 楽 gaku (music, comfort). Japan is the world's largest market for music on physical media and the second-largest overall music market, with a retail value of US$2.7 billion in 2017.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.