noun
Japanese seven-tone gagaku scale (so, la, ti, do, re, mi, fa); similar to Mixolydian mode
Technical term in gagaku (Japanese court music). The scale corresponds to the Western Mixolydian mode but is used in a traditional Japanese context. Often contrasted with 律旋法 (ritsu scale).
See also: 律旋法
雅楽では、呂旋法と律旋法という二つの音階が使われる。
In gagaku, two scales are used: the ryo scale and the ritsu scale.
The term 呂 (ryo) refers to one of the two main tone systems in gagaku, derived from Chinese music theory. 旋法 (senpō) means 'mode' or 'scale'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the scale has been used in Japanese court music for centuries.