gagaku; traditional Japanese court music
Refers to the ancient orchestral music and dance performed at the Imperial court and certain shrines/temples, with origins in continental Asia.
Gagaku was performed at the shrine festival.
Gagaku is a traditional performing art with over a thousand years of history.
宮内庁式部職楽部が雅楽の演奏を担当している。
The Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency is responsible for gagaku performances.
宮内庁で雅楽を聴く機会があった。
I had the chance to listen to gagaku at the Imperial Household Agency.
The shrine maidens danced in accompaniment to the gagaku music.
能楽 is the music and performance art of Noh theatre, a later tradition distinct from the older imperial court music of 雅楽.
雅楽 is the whole tradition of Japanese court music including purely instrumental and vocal pieces, while 舞楽 refers specifically to the danced pieces performed to that music.
俗楽 refers to popular, secular music enjoyed by common people, in contrast to 雅楽, the formal music of the imperial court.
government office in charge of court music (ritsuryō period)
From Middle Chinese 雅樂 (ngæX ngæwk), meaning 'elegant music'. The term was adopted in Japan to refer to the court music tradition that incorporated both native and continental influences.