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akujunkanI mentioned to a random teacher at an enkai last Friday that I happen to like Gagaku - a highly stylised form of court music imported into Japan from China in the 6th century. Apparently, there'a a Gagaku group in a nearby town, one of the few remaining in Japan.
The teacher offered to put me in touch with them. I happily accepted.
I went yesterday to watch a practise. It was very, very cool indeed. Gagaku is just so different from any Western concept of music, but there is a underlying logic to it - it is music and it does follow rules and progressions, but they're so far removed from the music I've spent my entire life listening to that they aren't immediately apparent.
So I watched the entire practise, at which point my teacher told the group I'd like to join. I really would, but.
They meet twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays. The train schedule to the town is erratic at best; I'd be giving up four hours each day to get to practises, and my Friday evening is already gone because of Korean class. Also, I work each Tuesday and Wednesday night, so that only leaves me with Monday and Sunday for chores and relaxing, and then there's the matter that I won't be able to go out drinking with anyone over the weekend.
On the other hand, Gagaku is cool and I have the feeling that I'll regret it my entire life if I don't act on the chance now. It just stinks that all of my interests put me in the path of Japanese people who are three to seven decades older than I am. At this rate I'm going to forget what people my age look like.
I can't go this Saturday due to the fact that I'm //cue heavenly choir here// MOVING but I'll be back next Wednesday. We shall see from there.
That will be all.
The teacher offered to put me in touch with them. I happily accepted.
I went yesterday to watch a practise. It was very, very cool indeed. Gagaku is just so different from any Western concept of music, but there is a underlying logic to it - it is music and it does follow rules and progressions, but they're so far removed from the music I've spent my entire life listening to that they aren't immediately apparent.
So I watched the entire practise, at which point my teacher told the group I'd like to join. I really would, but.
They meet twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays. The train schedule to the town is erratic at best; I'd be giving up four hours each day to get to practises, and my Friday evening is already gone because of Korean class. Also, I work each Tuesday and Wednesday night, so that only leaves me with Monday and Sunday for chores and relaxing, and then there's the matter that I won't be able to go out drinking with anyone over the weekend.
On the other hand, Gagaku is cool and I have the feeling that I'll regret it my entire life if I don't act on the chance now. It just stinks that all of my interests put me in the path of Japanese people who are three to seven decades older than I am. At this rate I'm going to forget what people my age look like.
I can't go this Saturday due to the fact that I'm //cue heavenly choir here// MOVING but I'll be back next Wednesday. We shall see from there.
That will be all.
