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 it also provides insight into the aesthetical and theoretical aspects of Japanese musical thought.

"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) andgaku, 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 the traditional Japanese music and that composed under Western influence, as well as the French and German impact on Japanese musical compositions. Galliano looks at the appearance of music in schools and the first Japanese musical compositions, as well as nationalism's effect on music through propaganda and censorship. Part Two explores topics such as the post-war avant-garde, the 1960s boom in traditional music, and the closing decades of the 20th century. The next generation of Japanese composers are also considered.

Japanese history and music scholars, as well as those interested in Japanese music, will want to includeYogaku in their collection.

Part 1 Foreword to the Italian Edition
Part 2 Foreword to the English Edition
Part 3 Acknowledgments
Part 4 Note on the Transliteration of Japanese Terms and Names
Part 5Part I: Introduction: Traditional Japanese Cultural Values and Japan's Transition into the Twentieth Century
Part 61 The Introduction of Western Music
Part 72 The Evolution of a Western-Style Musical Language in the First Half of the Twentieth Century
Part 83 A New Musical World
Part 94 Nationalism and Music
Part 10Part II: 5 The Cultural and Social Situation in the Postwar Period
Part 116 The Postwar Avant-Garde
Part 127 The 1960s
Part 138 The Closing Decades of the Twentieth Century
Part 14 Appendix A: List of Japanese Names
Part 15 Appendix B: List of Aesthetic and Musical Terms
Part 16 Bibliography
Part 17 Index
Part 18 About the Author