Introduction

Introduction

Japan

Japan is a small island country in East Asia. Culturally, they are not very well known for their traditional music/folk songs. The most popular folk song that is known from their culture is "Sakura," or in English, "Cherry Blossoms." Although this song is a bit irrelevant from the song that will be presented in this website for comparison purposes, this is an origin of the modern Japanese music, with the use of the pentatonic scale (very commonly used in the Eastern world music). Furthermore, I will be talking more about the modern music of Japan, mostly used in media soundtracks.

A painting of a traditional music celebration in Muromachi Period in Japan

Philippines

The Philippines is another small island country in the Eastern World - Southeast Asia - made up of more than a thousand islands in the Pacific Ocean. Historically, the Philippines had been invaded by many countries, such as Spain, the United States, and Japan. Today's modern Filipino music is mostly influenced by the Western World. However, again for comparison purposes of different music from different era, this website will analyze more of the traditional music of the Philippines, used in a traditional dance, after the influence of the Spaniards during their reign in the Philippines for about 300 years. Like most Asian cultures, the song that will be presented uses the pentatonic scale. The music will be further discussed in the Comparison and Differentation pages of this website.

Indigenous women playing the guitars