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MUSIC OF JAPAN. 219 |
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feast to show respect to their country, and it has become a patriotic as well as religious occasion. Over a million of spectators, annually view this procession.' In the ranks appear an image of the patron of sacred dancing, borne on a large drum; and the sacred gong of the priests. The band on this occasion is large, and flutes, trumpets, big drums, cymbals, gongs, and tambourines are among the instruments carried. The expenses of the lesser Matsouri are often defrayed by the people of a street or quarter which is specially devoted to the Kami in whose honor it is held.
Many of the customs above alluded to are sensibly losing their hold on the populace, since the recent introduction of our civilization; this is especially the case with such customs as come under government surveillance. The military music for example, has been remodelled on the European plan; regimental bands in French style (that is with a preponderance of drums), are now attached to the Japanese national army. The trumpet calls are said to be played with much aptitude by the Japanese performers, but in the matter of time-keeping by the band, and keeping step to the music by the soldiers, exactness is yet far from being attained.* In the theatre and its music, there is, as yet, not so great a change from former days, yet there are many European customs to be found there (though probably not all derived from Europe), and the theatre differs from th?' of China, in having a curtain in front of the stage:
•Dr. Mulhr ; paper read before the German Asiatic society. |
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