
Scarecrow Press · Books & Media
Yogaku
€122.99
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Prices last checked 4 Nov 2026, 11:27 UTC. Delivery and checkout conditions apply.
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In stock · Checked 4 Nov 2026, 11:27 UTC
About this product
"This book introduces us to the world of contemporary Japanese music and it guides us towards a better understanding of their world."—Luciano Berio Yogaku discusses over a century of musical activity in Japan, detailing, in particular, the music that was inspired by Western music after the Meiji Restoration in the 19th century, and its development through the end of the 20th century. The book not only examines the infiltration of Western music into Japan, but also provides insight into the aesthetic and theoretical aspects of Japanese musical thought. The word yogaku (Western music) is made up of two characters: yo , which means "ocean" (that is, "over the ocean," meaning Western or foreign) and gaku , which means "music." Divided into two parts, the text covers the period preceding World War I as well as the post-war period. The introduction provides a history of music's role in Japanese society, touching upon the differences in the functions of Japanese and Western music. Part One describes the complex process of a new musical world and the European musical ideas that penetrated Japan. Modernization through westernization is explored; the author details the differences between th