Min.27y.C5.8D folk music Music of Japan

a japanese folkswoman shamisen, 1904

japanese folk songs (min yō) can grouped , classified in many ways convenient think of 4 main categories: work songs, religious songs (such sato kagura, form of shintoist music), songs used gatherings such weddings, funerals, , festivals (matsuri, obon), , children s songs (warabe uta).

in min yō, singers typically accompanied three-stringed lute known shamisen, taiko drums, , bamboo flute called shakuhachi. other instruments accompany transverse flute known shinobue, bell known kane, hand drum called tsuzumi, and/or 13-stringed zither known koto. in okinawa, main instrument sanshin. these traditional japanese instruments, modern instrumentation, such electric guitars , synthesizers, used in day , age, when enka singers cover traditional min yō songs (enka being japanese music genre own).

terms heard when speaking min yō ondo, bushi, bon uta, , komori uta. ondo describes folk song distinctive swing may heard 2/4 time rhythm (though performers not group beats). typical folk song heard @ obon festival dances ondo. bushi song distinctive melody. name, pronounced bushi in compounds, means melody or rhythm. word used on own, prefixed term referring occupation, location, personal name or like. bon uta, name describes, songs obon, lantern festival of dead. komori uta children s lullabies. names of min yo songs include descriptive term, @ end. example: tokyo ondo, kushimoto bushi, hokkai bon uta, , itsuki no komoriuta.

many of these songs include stress on syllables pitched shouts (kakegoe). kakegoe shouts of cheer in min yō, included parts of choruses. there many kakegoe, though vary region region. in okinawa min yō, example, 1 hear common ha iya sasa! in mainland japan, however, 1 more hear yoisho!, sate!, or sore! others donto koi!, , dokoisho!

recently guild-based system known iemoto system has been applied forms of min yō; called. system developed transmitting classical genres such nagauta, shakuhachi, or koto music, since proved profitable teachers , supported students wished obtain certificates of proficiency , artist s names continues spread genres such min yō, tsugaru-jamisen , other forms of music traditionally transmitted more informally. today min yō passed on in such pseudo-family organizations , long apprenticeships common.

see ainu music of north japan.