Gagaku, literally meaning “elegant music,” is the oldest music in Japan. The development of Gagaku started around the early 6th century. Music, dance and instruments from Asian countries, such as China, Korea, Vietnam, India, etc... were brought into and mixed with Japanese original music, indigenous instruments and dance, gradually formed its unique style to what we see / hear today. Current Gagaku style was established around the 8th century at Imperial Court (Kyoto). The newest classical Gagaku song is actually 1000 years old. Gagaku formation is recognized as the oldest orchestra in the world. At the present time, Gagaku is played in Tokyo Imperial Court for sacred imperial rituals, also at some shrines and temples.

“Gagaku Doyukai” Gagaku Orchestra, performed this concert, was established in 1967 by Hironori Sono, a descendant of the ancient master musician family who had established Gagaku at its dawn. For a thousand and few hundred years, the family has been passing down the tradition from generation to generation. (His daughter Reiko Sono has been in charge since 1998.) They are one of the most serious and legitimate Gagaku musicians in Japan, core members would perform at the emperor's sacred rituals which is the highest level of Gagaku performance.

Bill Laswell and DJ Krush were the first ever artists who played with Gagaku orchestra out side of Gagaku circle ever since it's established (for 1300 or more years). Importantly, they’ve played the concert in traditional way, playing ancient tunes. (most of the current musicians would try to ask a couple of Gagaku musicians to play some modern songs with western music codes with their old instruments. The concert was a historical event.

Gagaku Instruments:

The orchestration will differ by tune. Normally, the orchestra contains: 3 drums (1 Shōko, 1 Kakko , 1 Tsuri-daiko), 6 strings (3 Gaku-Biwa , 3 Gaku-So) 9 winds (3 Shōs, 3 Hichirikis, 3 flutes). However, the orchestration can be very flexible.

The pitch has to normally align with Shō since the instrument is so hard to tune. They use Pythagorean tuning. A = 430Hz not 440.

There are no conductor but the left hand side drums is the one who would decide the tempo. The percussion players are the highest position, then strings, then winds. The front row - percussion, the second row - strings, the third row - wind. Each follows one's anterior row.


Wind / Horn
1 Shō (笙): mouth organ
2 Hichiriki (篳篥): oboe
3 Ryūteki (龍笛): transverse flute
4 Komabue (高麗笛): flute

Strings
1 Gakubiwa (楽琵琶): 4-string lute
2 Gakuso (koto, 箏): 13-string zither (Chinese origin)
3 Yamatogoto (大和琴) (also called “wagon”):
zither (Japanese origin, with 6 or 7 strings)

Percussion / Drums
1 Shōko (鉦鼓): small gong, struck with 2 horn beaters
2 Kakko (鞨鼓): small hourglass-shaped drum struck
with 2 wooden sticks
3 Tsuri-daiko (釣太鼓): drum on a stand with ornately painted head,
played with a padded stick
4 Ikko (壱鼓): small, ornately decorated hourglass-shaped drum
5 San-no-tsuzumi (三ノ鼓): vhourglass-shaped drum
6 Shakubyoshi (笏拍子) (also called “shaku”):
clapper made from a pair of flat wooden sticks
7 Dadaiko (大太鼓): symbolic large 2 drum units indicating yin & yang