Kangen: music for instrumental ensemble
Kangen is music for instrumental ensemble in which a variety of instruments collaborate in the performance of melody and rhythm. The fact that it has no song or dance makes is a rather rare genre among Japanese traditional music, which is dominated by genres of vocal music.
Although the word kangen literally means ‘pipes and strings,’ its ensemble also includes percussion instruments. The basic ensemble is of three types of wind instruments, two types of stringed instruments, and three percussion instruments. This instrumentation is referred to in Japanese as sankan-ryōgen-sanko.
In principle, the repertoire of kangen is made up of tōgaku (‘Tang music’) pieces; komagaku (‘Korean music’) is rarely performed in kangen style. Many tōgaku pieces exist in both the kangen and bugaku repertoires, but the instrumental ensemble differs. Kangen performance is generally slower in tempo and more detailed in nuance. Many tōgaku pieces are only performed as kangen. Some of these pieces were composed expressly for kangen performance, while some survive only as kangen because their dances have been lost.
Chamber music born at the Heian court
Illustration for the Chapter ‘Wakamurasaki’ from Genji monogatari emaki
(‘Illustrated scroll of the Tale of Genji’)
A performance of kangen beneath the cherry blossoms
Hikaru Genji plays the zither; Tō no Chūjō plays the flute
The various types of imported music and dance underwent a process of ‘Japanization’ as they were adopted by the Heian court (9th to 12th centuries).
The Heian courtiers did not only listen to the music; they enjoyed playing the instruments themselves. This ensemble music was performed mainly indoors, and an ensemble of instruments was selected from those available, with consideration of their size and volume, ease of performance, and timbre. Performance techniques were standardized, bringing form to kangen, music with the characteristics of chamber music.
Kangen performances, in which courtiers came together to perform accompanied vocal music in addition to instrumental music, became daily events in court society. For the courtiers, the ability to participate in performances during festivals in all seasons, and ceremonies associated with various life events, were an indispensable cultural accomplishment. The importance of music is reflected in the phrase shiika-kangen, literally ‘Chinese poetry, Japanese poetry, pipes and strings,’ which were the talents expected of the Heian courtier.
