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Music in Japan: Expressing Music, Expressing Culture

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Music in Japan
Expressing Music, Expressing Culture

BY BONNIE C. WADE
GLOBAL MUSIC SERIES, GENERAL EDITORS: BONNIE C. WADE AND
PATRICIA SHEHAN CAMPBELL
NEW YORK: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2005
184 PAGES, 45 FIGURES, ONE INDEX, ONE RESOURCES LISTING,
GLOSSARY, CD TRACK LIST, ISBN 0-19-514488-0

Young American students today have more exposure to Japanese culture than ever before. The rising popularity of Japanese animation, comic books, and video games is introducing Japanese culture to the entire world. Because of this increased exposure, more young Americans are becoming fascinated by Japanese culture, both traditional and modern. Teachers at all levels may use this new fascination to introduce the study of Japanese culture in a more academic context. Music in Japan: Expressing Music, Expressing Culture is extremely useful for this purpose because of its interdisciplinary approach and the many activities intended to spark further research and discussion. Although the book focuses on music, it also discusses other aspects of Japanese culture such as theatre, literature, and film.

Wade uses three main themes to discuss music and culture in Japan today. She focuses on Japanese interaction with other cultures, the integration of Japanese music and other music to create a new tradition, and music in relation to other art forms in Japanese culture. For example, a large portion of the book is dedicated to tracing the evolution of the Tale of Heike, a medieval Japanese tale, from its origins as an epic story through its many incarnations as a theatrical work. This tale was presented as a Noh drama (a style originating in the fifteenth century), and then was adapted into a Kabuki play and a twentieth-century film. This one example demonstrates the interactions she discusses throughout the book.

Perhaps the most useful aspect for teachers is the accompanying CD, which contains examples of all music discussed in the book. She has also provided suggestions for listening activities and classroom discussion topics that will expand on the themes of the book by encouraging further study. All in all, Wade has provided an exceptionally well-balanced book that will prove useful both in the music classroom and beyond.