Japanese Music History Review Sheet

What is the shamisen and how is it played?

• Bachi

• Tacos

• Picks

• Yarn

Which traditional Japanese instrument is a bamboo flute played by monks and has a soft, breathy sound?

• Shakuhachi

• Koto

• Taiko

• Biwa

What is the taiko and how is it used in Japanese music?

• Taiko is a big drum used in festivals and parades. Played by hitting.

• Taiko is a string instrument used in tea ceremonies. Played by plucking.

• Taiko is a wind instrument used in kabuki theater. Played by blowing.

• Taiko is a small bell used in temples. Played by shaking.

During the Edo Period (1600s-1800s), what type of folk songs were sung by workers and farmers?

• Min'yo

• Gagaku

• Enka

• Noh

Kabuki and Bunraku are types of live music used for what purpose during the Edo Period?

• Drama

• Religious ceremonies

• Military parades

• Tea ceremonies

Who played the shakuhachi for meditation during the Edo Period?

• Komuso Monks

• Samurai Warriors

• Kabuki Actors

• Shinto Priests

In the Meiji Era (1800s-1900s), what style of songs did schools start teaching?

• Western-style songs (shoka) with solfege

• Traditional Japanese folk songs only

• Religious hymns from Buddhist temples

• Samurai war chants

Which new instruments were introduced in Japan during the Meiji Era?

• Harmonium and brass bands

• Koto and shamisen

• Sitar and tabla

• Balalaika and accordion

During the Meiji Era, Japan blended Western and Japanese music.

• True

• False

What are Enka songs usually about?

• Love, loss, and nostalgia

• Adventure and exploration

• Science and technology

• Sports and competition