Music department - Gakubu

This is the department in charge of gagaku in the Imperial Household Agency's Shikibusho. The performers are called musicians. In 1870 (Meiji 3), the Sanpo Gakunin (musicians from the Imperial Court in Kyoto, Shitennoji Temple in Osaka, and Kofukuji Temple in Nara) and Momijiyama musicians from Edo Castle were summoned to the Gagaku Bureau of the Dajokan (Grand Council of State), and a policy was decided to abolish the old custom of exclusive use of daikyoku and hikyoku and promote the liberalization of teaching. In 1876 and 1888, the Meiji Selection Music was compiled, which collected the traditions of each musician and covered all gagaku compositions. During that time, the Gagaku Bureau was renamed the Gagaku Division in 1871, the Gagaku Department in 1888, and the Music Department in 1907 (Meiji 40), and has remained so to this day.

The orchestra consists of two conductors, three assistant conductors, over 20 musicians, four administrative directors, and advisors and musician students, and is open to the public on the condition that they undergo a training period of six to seven years, including the study of Western music. Every year, they are required to perform Kagura and Azuma Asobi at the Emperor Jinmu Festival, the Late Emperor Festival, and the Imperial Ancestors' Festival, as well as Oouta and Kumeuta at the enthronement ceremony of the Emperor, and Ruika at funerals, and other private ceremonies at the Imperial Palace. Kangen and Bugaku are performed twice a year, in spring and autumn, at the Imperial Palace, and Western music is also sometimes performed.

[Yoko Hashimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

宮内庁式部職において雅楽を担当する部門。その演奏家を楽師という。1870年（明治3）太政官(だじょうかん)雅楽局に三方楽人(さんぽうがくにん)（京都宮廷・大阪四天王寺・奈良興福寺の楽人）と江戸城内の紅葉山(もみじやま)楽人が召集され、旧来の大曲・秘曲専有の慣習を廃して教習の自由化を促す方針が決められ、76年、88年には各楽家(がくけ)の伝承を集成して雅楽の全楽曲を網羅した明治選定譜が編纂(へんさん)された。その間、雅楽局は71年に雅楽課、88年に雅楽部、1907年（明治40）に楽部と改称されて現在に至っている。

　内部は楽長2名、楽長補3名、楽師20余名、事務長4名、および顧問・楽生からなり、洋楽の学習を含め6～7年の修業期間を条件に、民間にも門戸が開放されている。毎年、神武(じんむ)天皇祭・先帝祭・皇霊祭には神楽(かぐら)・東遊(あずまあそび)、また随時、天皇即位式典には大歌(おおうた)・久米歌(くめうた)、葬儀には誄歌(るいか)など、宮中の非公開の儀礼で演奏することが定められている。管絃(かんげん)と舞楽は春秋の2回皇居で公開されるほか、洋楽を演奏する場合もある。

［橋本曜子］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例