About Gagaku
Gagaku is a music genre that emerged in Japan. It is usually classed as a form of traditional Japanese music and East Asian court ceremonial music.
Gagaku has given rise to 2 subgenres on this site, such as Komagaku and Tōgaku.
From Wikipedia
Gagaku (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. Each piece is based on a main melody which each instrument embellishes.
Gagaku consists of three primary repertoires:
Genre family tree
Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Gagaku.
- ↑ traditional Japanese music
- ↑ East Asian court ceremonial music
- ↓ Komagaku
- ↓ Tōgaku
Related genres
Frequently asked questions
What is Gagaku?
Gagaku is a music genre that emerged in Japan. It is usually classed as a form of traditional Japanese music and East Asian court ceremonial music.
Where and when did Gagaku originate?
Gagaku originated in Japan.