Orchestral music

Japanese: 管弦 - かんげん

(1) The name of a style of gagaku music. Formerly written as "kangen," it is the opposite of bugaku. It is a pure instrumental ensemble of Tang music, performed by three wind instruments (sho, hichiriki, and ryuteki), two string instruments (gakutaiko, gong, and kakko). The instrument lineup is usually one percussionist for each drum, three per wind instruments (called sankan-dori; when there is one per wind instrument, it is called ichikan-dori), and two per string instruments (tsuyu). The principal player of each wind instrument is called ondo, and the others are called sukekan. The string instruments are called omobiwa and mengoto, and the assistant players are called sukegen. The ensemble has a certain format, and the piece begins after a netori or meshi introduction. The piece begins with a flute solo, followed by percussion, sho, hichiriki, and finally biwa and koto. It is not an accompaniment to the dance, but rather music alone, and the tempo is slower than that of bugaku, and it is played gracefully so that the technique of each instrument can be fully demonstrated. At the end of the piece, the leader of the wind and string instruments plays a short closing phrase called "tomete." In addition to the instrumental ensemble, orchestra concerts often include not only the instrumental ensemble, but also saibaraku and roei, and these are sometimes referred to as orchestra. (2) A style of performance of Kabuki music. It is pronounced "kagen." It imitates the orchestra of gagaku, and is used at the opening of the palace curtain in historical kyogen.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

(1) 雅楽の演奏様式名。古くは「管絃」と書いた。舞楽に対する。唐楽を，三管 (笙，篳篥〈ひちりき〉，竜笛〈りゅうてき〉) ，両弦 (楽琵琶，楽箏) ，三鼓 (楽太鼓，鉦鼓，羯鼓) で合奏する純粋な器楽合奏の形態。楽器編成は，通例，打楽器は各鼓1人ずつ，管楽器は各管3人ずつ (三管通りという。各管楽器1人ずつの場合は一管通り) ，弦楽器は各弦2人ずつとなり，合計 16人前後で行われる。各管楽器の首席奏者を音頭といい，他を助管という。弦楽器は面 (おも) 琵琶，面箏といい，助奏者を助弦という。合奏には一定の形式があり，音取 (ねとり) あるいは調子が序奏されたのち，当曲に入る。曲は笛の独奏で始り，次に打楽器と笙，篳篥，最後に琵琶と箏が加わる。舞の伴奏ではなく，音楽だけを聞かせるもので，テンポは舞楽に比べてゆるやかに，各楽器の技巧が十分に発揮されるように優雅に奏される。曲の終りは，管・弦楽器のリーダーが「止め手」という短い終結句を奏する。なお管弦の演奏会では，器楽合奏だけでなく，その間に催馬楽や朗詠を加えることが多く，これらを含めて管弦ということもある。 (2) 歌舞伎囃子の演奏様式。「かげん」と読む。雅楽の管弦を模したもので，時代狂言の御殿の幕あきなどに用いられる。

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