Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Music

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Hi Japanese learners!

In this lesson, you will learn some vocabulary and expressions related to music in Japanese.

Good learning! :D

Generalities[edit | edit source]

Music is considered as the universal language that everybody can speak and understand.

Culture, influences, location bring differences but there are not a barrel to share. The emotion can be feel the same no matter who you are, let's your sensibility guides you.

Constitutive elements[edit | edit source]

Depending where you are on the planet Earth, the manner to note the music is not the same everywhere. Althought japanese use european system, there is also a "local" system.

The following table will show some kinds of notation.

France DO RE MI FA SOL LA SI
England A B C D E F G
Germany A H C D E F G
Japan (kana)
Japan (romaji) HA NI HO HE TO HI RO

* The difference between England and germany is the using of B or H to express the note "SI"

This is the base. But there are some other elements, like mods.

In France, England and Germany each squale has at least 2 mods.

C squale


C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C (major)

The ratio is : tone, tone, half-tone, tone, tone, tone, half-tone


C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb - C (minor)

The ration is : tone, half-tone, tone, tone, half-tone, tone, tone.


As you can, see there are seven notes is these mods.

But japanese music has 5-note mods.

The most famous are the following.


Hirajashi

tone, half-tone, major third, half-tone, major third.

C - Db - F - Gb - Bb - C


Kumoe

half-tone, major third, tone, half-tone, major-third

C - D - Eb - G - Ab - C


The most famous traditional song (Sakura Sakura) is written in this last mod.


WARNING : This is a a transcription in C squale, but the mods can be moved in each other squale

* b added to a not means flat (moll in german)

Instruments[edit | edit source]

The main instruments in japanese traditional music are :


Koto : a kind of horizontal harp

Shamisen : looks like a 3 strings banjo.

Shakuhachi : Long reed-pipe.


"Sakura Sakura" is played by Koto.


Videos[edit | edit source]


Another song with koto. Made by the polyglot music group "Pink Martini"


Photos[edit | edit source]

Last year, in 2016 I've been to "Cite Universitaire Internationale de Paris" on the Music Day (June 21st). At "Maison du Japon" a Koto concert was held by a japanese artist. Here are few files taken by myself.


Score resize.jpg

This is the score of a piece.


Koto and Kimono.JPG

Welcome to our lesson on Japanese Vocabulary → Music! 🎶 In this lesson, we will explore various musical terms and expressions in the Japanese language. As a Japanese language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to share this fascinating aspect of the language with you. After mastering this lesson, you might also be interested in expanding your Japanese vocabulary in other areas, such as counting from 1 to 10, numbers, and places. Enjoy your musical journey through the Japanese language! 🎼

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