Ryōan-ji is a Zen monastery in Kyoto, Japan, founded by Hosokawa Katsumodo in 1450. It is particularly famous due to its extant karesansui, or dry landscape garden. This is said to be added by Hosokawa Masamoto in 1488 during reconstruction of the monastery (Brinker 80).The karesansui was used for the basic purpose of meditation by Zen monks. (expand)
John Cage was a composer who lived from 1912-1992. He is famous for minimalist works that frequently explore different aspects of rhythm. In 1983, he started writing “Ryoanji,” named after Ryōan-ji in Kyoto. In this piece, he combines traditional and non-traditional forms of notation in order to create unique temporal relations that seek to express the essence of the karesansui at Ryōan-ji. The piece consists of a part for percussion (or orchestra) and a number of different solo parts that can be played together or not. Cage has composed “Ryoanji” for flute, oboe, trombone, voice, and double bass. He allows the performance to include one or more than one solo part played simultaneously with the percussion or orchestral accompaniment. The accompaniment is rhythmically notated in a traditional manner, with quarter notes and rests set in specific meters. The solo parts are notated in a highly non-traditional manner. They are essentially linear representations of pitch over time, and will be discussed in more detail below.
In this paper, I will attempt to examine the composition of the karesansui at Ryōan-ji and its musical translation by John Cage.
I will start by outlining some of the physical observations that can be made of the garden. The karesansui at Ryōan-ji is 248m2 rectangle that can be divided into three main components. They are stones, moss, and gravel. There are 15 lar...
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... compare them to natural sounds and their relationships. Natural sounds include sounds made by animals (including the human voice), natural forces such as wind and water, and percussive sounds made by events in nature, among other things. These could be events such as falling trees, crashing waves on the beach, or tectonic rumbling. (develop this)
Works Cited
http://www.geocomputation.org/2007/7A-Evolutionary_Computing_and_Fuzzy_Modelling/7A1.pdf http://vcj.sagepub.com/content/3/3/344.full.pdf+html http://johncage.org/pp/John-Cage-Work-Detail.cfm?work_ID=165 http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/LMJ_a_00060 http://www.jstor.org/stable/40374507?seq=12 http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/pajj.2009.31.3.58 http://www.ryoanji.jp http://www.jstor.org/stable/1522704 Brinker
Roshi http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVLPages/ZenPages/Daily-Zen-Sutras.html#HEART
Zen in the Art of Archery, by Eugen Herrigel describes the ritualistic arts of discipline and focus that the Zen religion focuses around. In this book, Herrigel describes many aspects of how archery is, in fact, not a sport, but an art form, and is very spiritual to those in the east. The process he describes shows how he overcame his initial inhibitions and began to look toward new ways of seeing and understanding. In the beginning of the book Herrigel tells us that he is writing about a ritual and religious practice, “whose aim consists in hitting a spiritual goal, so that fundamentally the marksman aims at himself and may even succeed in hitting himself.” (Herrigel p. 4) Through his studies, the author discovers that within the Zen ritual actions, archery in this case, there lies a deeper meaning. Herrigel explains throughout this book that it is not through the actual physical aspect of shooting arrows at targets that archery is Zen, but through the art and spirituality through which it is performed. It is not merely shooting an arrow to hit a target, but becoming the target yourself and then, in turn, hitting yourself spiritually. By meeting this spiritual goal, you will then meet the physical goal. The struggle then is, therefore not with the arrow or the target but within oneself.
John Milton Cage Jr. also known as John Cage was born in Los Angeles, California on September 5, 1912. Although he passed away on August 12, 1992 his legacy as an American composer, music theorist, writer, and artist lives on. Not only was he a participant in a wide variety of music genres but he became the father of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments. Cage also became very active in a lot of contemporary and unique artistry and many of his influences can be found in the works of musicians globally. Every great artist has someone or something they can look to as a basis and guideline to start off their own work. In John’s case, he used South/ East Asian cultural components, largely implementing
The paradise that Kubla Khan creates is a delightful playscape. At first, it seems a bit compulsively arranged, a bit overly luxurious, a bit too Disney. The "sinuous rills" adds a slightly ominous element to the Edenic paradise, a hint of what's to come. Already, though, there is a distinction implied between what is natural -- the "sinuous rills" and the "forests ancient as the hills" -- and what is clearly man-made, nature bent to mankind's service: the enfolded "sunny spots of...
The time between 1485 and 1660 marked a period of new beginnings for the people living in England; this time is known as the Renaissance. In England, the people were challenging their past beliefs; where before the Renaissance, England thrived basing their lives, government, and music off of God and his principles alone. During these one-hundred and seventy-five years, the English people started questioning their original principles about religion and established a yearning for information and proof based off of science instead of God. This desire caused many changes to form in England. The Renaissance period quickly became known as the rebirth of knowledge named by the change from God’s knowledge to the knowledge of man. The Renaissance brought on many changes to English culture especially in their music. There was a rise in secular, or non-religious music, instrumental music, and dance music. Although the English Renaissance occurred many centuries ago, the major changes in musical styles are evident in both spiritual and secular music.
Balance can be a difficult characteristic to hold within one’s self as well as their pieces of work. To obtain this quality, an equal amount of time and effort must be put within the creation of any type of design. There should not be any form of emphasis towards a certain topic unless another placed on its opposite. Artists, musicians, and dancers alike have the option to convey these characteristics in their works; either having that balance clearly noticeable, or placing emphasis on other features or a specific one at that. The people under analysis; Pollock, John Cage and Merce Cunningham, all had constructions in which freedom, control, purpose and purposelessness are exhibited. The question, upon examination of these works is whether
... There is a suggestion of noise in Cage’s work, just like in Angelico’s. The performer of 4’33’’ approaches the instrument three times, giving the instrument the possibility of noise without the reality of that noise: the viewer becomes the performer, imagining how that noise may be articulated. This is just how a blank sheet of music still embodies music without ever being played; it triggers associations with sound.
This concert is held by the Stony Brook University music department and is to perform seven pieces of music written by seven student composers. The concert is performed in Recital Hall of Staller Center in Stony Brook University. Since it is a small hall, audiences are very close to the performers. In fact, it is the first time I am this close to the performers and the sound for me is so clear and powerful that seems like floating in front of my eyes. Among the seven pieces, “Ephemeral Reveries” and “Gekko no mori” are piano solo, “Two Songs for Joey” is in piano and marimba, “Suite” and “Fold Duet No. 1” are in woodwinds, “Elsewhere” is played by string groups, and “e, ee, ree, and I was free” is in vocal. Personally, I like the sound of piano and guitar the best. Therefore, in the latter part I will analysis two pieces in piano, “Gekko no mori” and “Two Songs for Joey”.
Throughout the early years in many East Asian countries, there were many people who were looking for answers to this world’s, and otherworldly, questions. When Gotama became enlightened, and began preaching the practices of Buddhism, it came at such a time when the Han dynasty was collapsing, citizens were tired of Confucianism and looking for a new ideology that they could put there hearts and souls into. Over the years, Buddhism proved to be much more than just a religion; it became a way of life. But over time, the powerful orthodoxy transformed, and many different Buddhist sects emerged. One of the more popular sects, Ch’an, or Zen, Buddhism, has become one of the most influential religions in China and Japan, and is still flourishing today.
Music is a part of everyday life for almost everyone in the world. Music provides us with enjoyment and relaxation, and can be used in many ways by many different people. Some may use it to calm down after a long, hard day, while others use it for religious purposes or still others in and attempt to try and forget something that hasn’t been favorable to them. The possibilities are endless, for music is one language that can be transmitted to all people of the world, no matter their nationality, and it can be understood by everyone. Tibet is no different than any other place in the world, as it has music that serves the purpose of the people who live there. While most music in Tibet is religious, secular music still exists and is still a part of life there. Tibetan music has played an important role in shaping who the Tibetan people have become today by giving themselves different ways to express who they are, through the use of differing instruments and styles of music, and has allowed other people from around the world the opportunity to look at Tibetan culture through their music.
Kobayashi, T. (1975) Nara Buddhist Art: Todai-ji. John Weatherhill Inc, NY, USA & Heibonasha, Tokyo
In his preface of the Kokinshū poet Ki no Tsurayaki wrote that poetry conveyed the “true heart” of people. And because poetry declares the true heart of people, poetry in the minds of the poets of the past believed that it also moved the hearts of the gods. It can be seen that in the ancient past that poetry had a great importance to the people of the time or at least to the poets of the past. In this paper I will describe two of some of the most important works in Japanese poetry the anthologies of the Man’yōshū and the Kokinshū. Both equally important as said by some scholars of Japanese literature, and both works contributing greatly to the culture of those who live in the land of the rising sun.
Bring, Mitchell, and Wayembergh, Josse. Japanese Gardens—Design and Meaning. McGraw-Hill series in Landscape and Landscape Architecture. McGraw-Hill, 1981.
...nd was his nervous system operating and the lower pitched one was his blood circulating. The realization of the impossibility of silence led Cage to the composition of his most famous piece, 4’ 33”, in which the musician sits at the piano in silence, lifting and closing the lid ever so often while watching a timer. Cage said after his experience in the anechoic chamber, “Until I die there will be sounds. And they will continue following my death. One need not fear about the future of music.” (1)
...chestral introduction with an imperfect cadence. A strong rhythmic ¾ allegro passage, with sequences and descending scales is played by the orchestra, with timpani and cymbals. The music modulates, and a short, quiet woodwind passage is then alternated with an orchestral passage with dotted rhythms, creating a `terraced dynamics' effect. Part B begins with a major clarinet melody accompanied by pizzicato strings. A minor flute sequence follows, and is followed by a repetition of the oboe melody. A string sequence is then played, imitated by the oboe. There is a crescendo, then the rhythmic orchestral melody returns, alternated with a short flute passage. There are suspensions, descending scales and a crescendo, followed by a strong rhythmic passage with the timpani playing on the beat. Imperfect cadences are played, before the piece finishes with a perfect cadence.
Japan is a country that has a great impact on the world from many perspectives. Not only because of their strong economy and great technology, their culture also gives people extraordinary impressions. Japanese music as an indispensable part of Japanese culture, it is also being popular in different continents. However, “Japanese Music” is a broad topic and there are far more things we need to study and observe to completely understand beside to listen the music itself. Although Japanese music is a big topic, it can specify to different Japanese Music style or genre. In my opinion, Japanese music between religion worship and entertainment are highly linked together. Comparing the Japanese court music “Gagaku” and the Japanese folk music of religion “Shinto” Can show many similarities between these two as well as some differences.