Japanese Electroacoustic and Japanese Instruments

Abstract

Electroacoustic music was introduced to Japan at almost the same time as other compositional methodologies, such as the 12-tone technique and serial music. On the other hand, traditional Japanese instruments, which had long been forgotten among composers, were also unveiled in the middle twentieth Century as new sound material separated from their original background. From a sound aesthetics viewpoint, this article describes Japanese composers’ digesting processes related to these new materials during the early electroacoustic music and early digital technology-based eras, through to today’s situation within the social background in Japan. Finally, the article discusses the potential of electroacoustic music relating to the Japanese instruments.