While the West, especially Brazil, is dominated by songs with standardized lyrics and rhythms, Japan continues to be strong with traditional classical music. Do you know what classical music is?
It does not necessarily indicate symphonies, operas, and instruments like violin and piano. The main characteristic of classical music is its complexity of instrumentation, where we have various musical instruments that create an artistic manifestation.
Just to remind you, we are talking about Western classical music and not traditional Japanese music. Both traditional classical music remains strong in Japan, as well as Japanese popular music like J-POP, J-Rock, and others that utilize techniques and musical complexities that no other country employs.
About 20% of the global classical music market is located in Japan. Throughout Japan, it is possible to find centers for musical arts and concert halls.
Across Japan, students are encouraged to appreciate classical music through clubs and projects involving opera, piano, violin, singing, figure skating, theater, and various extracurricular subjects involving music.
Classical music was introduced to Japan during the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Great names like Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Wagner influenced all of Japan. The first symphonic performance in Japan took place on February 19, 1887, in Tokyo.
Classical music present in Japan
In Japan, music education begins at the age of 6, where students play instruments and sing. In high school, students choose between clubs and can decide to learn to play various traditional or classical instruments.
This means that all students in Japan have been exposed in some way to classical music and play some instrument. While some consider that appreciating classical music is a thing for the rich and elite, it is becoming more common for Japanese people to appreciate this type of music and attend orchestras.
In Tokyo alone, there are more than 4,000 classical music professionals; it is in this city that the largest number of professional orchestras in the world occurs. Nowadays, classical music can be found in Japan not only in orchestras but also in movies, games, animes, and doramas.
The greatest game composers in the world are found in Japan. Great names like Toru Takemitsu (composer), Seiji Ozawa (conductor), and Fujiko Hemming (pianist) have been of great importance in the music world. We can mention great game composers like Koji Kondo (Zelda, Mario), Akira Yamaoka, and Nobuo Uematsu who have influenced the whole world.
In addition to all the animes and games having classical-style music as soundtracks and background music, animes and mangas have also paid attention to classical music through their stories.
Great works like shigatsu wa kimi no uso, nodame cantabile, and several other school animes that involve instruments and singing. These are must-watch animes for those who wish to delve deeper or get to know classical music better.
Read the article about my favorite sad soundtracks
Modern music influenced by classical music
From an early age, Japanese people are encouraged to learn classical instruments such as piano and violin. Nowadays, most popular songs in Japan are complex and use various instruments.
You can notice, take any Western song, especially Brazilian ones, and compare them with Japanese songs, even those from animes. In Japanese songs, you can find significant and complex changes in the middle of the songs, as well as the use of unconventional instruments in modern music.
Most Japanese songs are considered romantic. There is a large number of songs that use piano and violin, in addition to the countless traditional Japanese instruments and synthesized sounds that give a gigantic complexity to the music.
Even though classical music has died in many places, Japan remembers it both in the traditional way and shows it in its modern music, where complexity, diversity, and organization create a true art. Not to mention the complexity of traditional music and the organization and performances at festivals.
I can affirm this from my own experience. After being influenced by music and soundtracks from movies, games, and animes, I discovered Japanese music that can differentiate and stand out just with the instruments without the need for a voice or lyrics, which are the main things that most people notice. And you? What do you think about classical music? I would like to hear your opinion on the subject and I already thank you for the comments and shares.
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