Music Made in Japan
THE origins of traditional Japanese music reach back more than a thousand years. Included are classical or refined music, chamber music, theater, folk and festival music, as well as a host of vocal forms. This treasury of music was passed on from generation to generation without the help of musical scores. Between the third and fifth centuries C. E. , Buddhist missionary priests came to Japan to spread their views. The chants and background music associated with their religion gradually merged with the Shinto traditional music, forming a basis for nearly all native Japanese music. By the seventh century this music of Japan developed into what became known as Gagaku, the classical (literally, “elegant”) music. From Gagaku, which became the music of the imperial court, the secular use of instrumental music grew, as did theatrical music. Meanwhile, folk and festival music appeared, with its loud drumming and lively rhythm, contrasting sharply with the quiet music of Gagaku. The InstrumentsToday many instruments are employed in traditional Japanese music. The three most commonly heard are the koto, shakuhachi and shamisen. The koto, imported from China around the ninth century, is a long wooden box-type instrument about six feet (1. 8 meters) long and one foot (. 3 meter) wide. With the instrument lying before him, the seated player plucks its 13 strings with a plectrum. A skillful player can produce music that pleasantly resembles that of the harp. The Japanese bamboo flute, measuring about 21 inches (53 centimeters) in length, is called shakuhachi. This instrument has five finger holes, and a mouthpiece at the upper end. The player holds the shakuhachi vertically. By skillfully adjusting his lips to the mouthpiece at varying angles and moving his neck into different positions as he covers the holes with his fingers, the instrumentalist is able to produce three octaves of tones. The plaintive wail produced by this flute may generate feelings of vagueness and melancholy. The shamisen has no counterpart among Western musical instruments. It came to Japan from China by way of Okinawa around the year 1560 C. E. But only the instrument is an import. The manner in which the shamisen is played, the kind of music produced with it and the construction of the instrument itself are strictly Japanese. It looks somewhat like a banjo, is made of wood covered with cat skin, and has three gut strings. The shamisen is played by striking the strings with a large plectrum. When music is produced on the shamisen, the most important thing is not the sound of the instrument but the words for which the music provides the background. Without the words, the music has little meaning. It varies according to the meaning of the song. When words fail to express what is to be conveyed, such as the cold of falling snow or the trickling of a brook, the shamisen is used to “imitate” these things, and the story is told without words. Appreciating the MusicWhat is the composite effect produced by Japanese instrumentalists? If you are listening for the first time, your reaction may be that you are hearing the same thing over and over again. It may seem that you are listening to a kind of melody, and yet there appear to be conflicting melodies. But there is something delightful about seeing the musicians perform. Their movements, posture and expressions all appear to be choreographed and in perfect harmony. Yes, in Japan, not just the music, but how it is played and how the performance looks to the observer are important. Japanese music is very different from the music common in Western lands. This difference includes the scale, the rhythm and the sound. In Western orchestral music, sounds from the various instruments blend, producing harmony. But in Japanese music the individual instruments can be heard playing conflicting melodies. Nevertheless, together they create an aesthetic balance. Western InfluenceIn the last 100 years, the Western style of music has become the norm in Japan. Under Emperor Meiji’s reform, music began to be taught in the schools, and it was the music of the West. In spite of this, there is no danger that the ancient traditional music will die out. Many Japanese people want to preserve the traditional music. Therefore, the various guilds that perpetuate this music and teach it continue to thrive. Because music of the Western world has become so much a part of Japanese culture, one can find old Japanese songs written in Western notation and scored for the piano or guitar. Also, in the last century many new Japanese songs have been written according to the Western style. But it cannot be said that these are truly Western songs. Rather, the Japanese simply have used a medium to enrich their own musical heritage. The development is music with a distinct Japanese flavor, though scored and played in the Western style.
The popularity of online video has been on the increase for several years, and there is no sign of it slowing down. In fact, the Interactive Advertising Bureau said today that advertisers spent 18. 2% more in the first quarter of 2008 than they did the same time last year. And this is during a recession. During the same time, television advertisement have decreased by a little over 10%. 
Soul Music has its beginnings in Gospel and R&B of the 1940s and 1950s. They both had major influences on key soul singers including Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, just to name a couple. The birthplace of Soul Music, to be quite honest is unknown. What is known? The United States inner cities, including Chicago, Detroit, Florence, Memphis, and New York, all created and produced their own soul music styles based on their demographics at the same time, thus making a “beautiful mixture“ of sound variety across the states for us all to enjoy. In the 1970s, Hip Hop was born, which had a huge influence on the Soul Music that followed. New Jack Swing (aka Swing Beat), which combined Soul, Hip Hop, Gospel and Jazz, was absolutely rocking. Disco and Funk Music also came to fruition in the 1970s, and started to decline in the early 1980s. Undoubtedly, Soul Music was now being influenced by Electro Music and Funk – it became known as Contemporary R&B which was, and still is, great!. House and Techno rose to mainstream popularity in the late 1980s and remained popular in the 1990s and 2000s. Also starting in the 1980s, Soul Music from the United Kingdom became very popular – cheers mate!. The development of Neo-Soul started around 1994. This was due to mainstream record label marketing support for soul genres diminishing in the 2000s, as the industry re-focused on Hip Hop – somewhat of a master stroke by the powers that be. The many genres of Soul Music and R&B have reached a point, well before now of course, where they are now sub-divided into subgenres. To be side tracked, even though I have not mentioned it above, true Soul Music connoisseurs know that Rock and Roll was, literally, born from Soul Music and Rhythm and Blues…. another day, another article. Subgenres:Detroit (Motown) Soul MusicStrongly rhythmic and influenced by gospel music – includes hand clapping, a powerful bass line – called “dub“, Violins and Bells. Deep Soul and Southern Soul MusicA driving, energetic soul style combining R&B’s energy with pulsating – down south, Gospel Music. Memphis Soul MusicA shimmering, sultry style of soul music produced in the 1960s and 1970s – includes melancholic and melodic horns, organ, bass, and drums – truly remarkable. New Orleans Soul MusicDirectly came out of the R&B era – deep. Chicago Soul MusicA light gospel-influenced sound – emotional. Philadelphia Soul Music AKA Philly Soul – Orchestral sound and “doo-wop” vocals. Psychedelic Soul MusicA blend of psychedelic rock and soul music, which paved the way for funk music a few years later – yeah buddy!. Blue-eyed Soul MusicPerformed by white artists, it has evolved over decades and to a lesser extent, the term has been applied to singers in other music genres that are influenced by Soul Music – Kenny G is truly a great artist. Neo Soul MusicA musical blend of 1970s soul-style vocals and instrumentation with contemporary R&B sounds, hip hop beats and poetic interludes – to chill out!. Northern Soul and Modern Soul MusicRare Soul Music that was played by DJs at nightclubs in northern England – includes obscure 1960s and early 1970s American soul recordings – It‘s the vibes that matter. Nu-Jazz and soulful electronica Music Various genres of electronic music such as House, Drum & Bass, UK Garage, and Down tempo – the fusion is “you are on one!”There is something about really fantastic old rare soul music that will always stay with you , and will always have you wanting more of “the vintage stuff. ” Well look no further, because finally, there is this highly popular R&B and Rare Soul Grooves website featuring Soul Music TV. Want to watch FREE 24 hour Soul Music Internet TV and receive 4 FREE Rare Soul CD Samplers?Then visit: http://www. raresoulgrooves. com/106. htmlSoulgrooves