General term for music, often used in compounds such as 音楽 (おんがく). As a standalone noun, it can sound somewhat formal or literary.
See also: 音楽
He aspires to pursue the path of music.
Ancient music has been handed down at this temple.
Gagaku is a type of ceremonial court music performed at the imperial court.
music
musical composition; piece of music; tune
musical instrument
wind music; wind instrument music
score; sheet music
Western music; European music
orchestra; band; musical ensemble
dressing room; green room; backstage area · behind the scenes; inside affairs; the inside story
Japanese music; traditional Japanese music
movement
Japanese music; traditional Japanese music
string music; music for strings
vocal music
chamber music
Noh; Noh theatre; Noh play
gagaku; traditional Japanese court music
ritual music and dancing at shrines and temples · rice-planting dance; rice festival · miso-glazed tofu (or fish) · turning something over like cooking dengaku
ancient music; early music
instrumental music
musician (esp. Gagaku performer)
musical performance; playing music
music theory; musical grammar; compositional rules
bugaku; court dance and music
band; orchestra
master musician
sarugaku; medieval Japanese theatre · noh; noh theatre · fooling around; horseplay
gigaku; ancient masked dance-drama
popular music; folk music
music performed by women · female court musicians and dancers
style of gagaku based on Tang-era Chinese music and ancient Indian song and dance
The kanji 楽 originally meant 'music' in Chinese. The reading がく is the on'yomi, used in many compounds related to music.