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TENRI GAGAKU MUSIC SOCIETY
NEW YORK
The Tenri Gagaku
Music Society of New York was founded in 1979. The Society has performed
in such diverse locations as The Newark Public Library. Queens College,
at street festivals in Manhattan. and at JFK International Airport. We
are an instructional group and welcome new members. The Tenri Gagaku Music
Society is affiliated with the Tenri Cultural Institute. 43A West 13th
Street, New York. NY 10011
What is GAGAKU?
In the 8th century, during the time of Japan's great assimilation of Chinese
culture, court music of T'ang China as well as the music of Korea-Manchuria
and Southeast Asia was imported into Japan. At the Nara Court of the Japanese
Heian dynasty, the tradition of Gagaku, "elegant music," was
developed. Gagaku flourished during this period when it was performed
at court banquets and at sacred shrines and temples. Gagaku artists actually
maintained a secluded existence until the late 19th century when they
were brought together at the Imperial Palace of the Emperor Meiji in Tokyo.
This music has been well preserved by the dedicated court-musicians and
still reflects the ideals of the Heian court. Today Gagaku is performed
by and large only on rare occasions. However, today, in addition to maintaining
its function as sacred music, it is also being pursued as a highly refined
art form in itself, drawing the attention of numerous art students and
musical performers.
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