Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - Theses
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ItemWestern Influence on Japanese art song (Kakyoku) in the Meiji era Japan( 2013)The focus of this dissertation is the investigation of the earliest Western influences on Kōjō no Tsuki (Moon over the Castle) the composition of Japanese composer Rentaro Taki. Kōjō no Tsuki is an example of an early Japanese Art Song known as Kakyoku composed during Meiji Era Japan (1868 - 1912). The dissertation is divided into four chapters with an introduction. Chapter One explores the historical background of the Meiji Era Japan, highlighting the major impact of the signing of the treaty between the United States of America and Japan in 1853. This treaty effectively opened Japan to the West, not only for trade, but for exchange of social, political and cultural ideas. The resulting evolution that occurred in Japan from feudal society to one of early twentieth century is illustrated by reference to articles and writings of the Meiji Era. The second chapter examines the Japanese Art Song form Kakyoku using the example of Rentarō Taki’s song, Kōjō no Tsuki. This chapter presents an argument to illustrate, from an anthropological viewpoint, why this new form of Japanese Art Song could have its own identity based on Western ideas and not be categorised as a Japanese Folk Song known as Minʹyō or Shin Minyō. Chapter Three outlines the impact of the personal history of the composers, Rentarō Taki and Yamada Kōsaku on the Song Kōjō no Tsuki. Included in this investigation is an examination of similarities in the two Japanese composers’ upbringing and their studies of Western music, highlighting Western influences that may have affected their composing styles. On the basis of this research it can be concluded that two of the three main Western influences of the Meiji Era Japan: School and Military, were present to a degree in the early lives of both composers. These influences, coupled with their study in Europe, consequently influenced this early Art Song composition Kōjō no Tsuki. Chapter Four assesses the song from an analytical perspective. A detailed analysis of Rentarō Taki’s song is compared with the arrangement of the same song by Yamada Kōsaku, a prolific composer of Japanese Art Song during and following Meiji Era Japan. The specific study and analysis of this chapter demonstrates how Rentarō Taki’s Song Kōjō no Tsuki set a precedent for future Western style Japanese Art Song compositions in post Meiji Era Japan.