Historical Background and Summary
Japanese Gunka music began in the 19th century as part of an integration of Western customs during the Meiji Restoration period. Western composers and teachers were invited to teach the musicians of Japan to write and make music in the Western classical tradition. In this time period, Gunka emerged as one of the two major Western-influenced musical forms. As military marches, they served to boost morale and encourage patriotism in Japan's post-Restoration wars, instead of being used as battlefield music.
Selection: Thousands of Enemies May Come
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This is a recording of the Gunka selection, Thousands of Enemies May Come, (敵は幾萬), downloaded from YouTube. (Being used in compliance with the U.S. Fair Use Doctrine as it's used in a school-related, non-profit manner)
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Instrumentation of the Japanese Gunka
The Japanese Gunka, having been influenced by the Western musical tradition, used primarily Western instruments, usually brass, percussion and wind instruments. In the selection, one can identify the following brass instruments: trumpet, trombone, tuba; the following percussion: timpani, cymbals, glockenspiel and snare; the listed woodwinds: clarinet, flute, piccolo; voice and lastly, a plucked instrument similar in tone color to the double bass.
Meter and Rhythmical Analysis of the Japanese Gunka
Although the Gunka is not used on the battlefield to be marched to, it nonetheless has a simple meter in duple time, probably in four-four time, inferring by the frequency of the change in theme or motif. As far as rhythmical motifs, one sees that there is a reoccurring music theme that is six quarters, and a triplet pair.
Tonality of the Japanese Gunka
The tonality of this march is major. Taking an inventory of the notes, one gets (in ascending order) C♮, D♮, E♮, G♮ and A♮. Assuming that the piece's key also includes F♮ and B♮, one concludes that the key of this piece, Thousands of Enemies May Come, is in the key of C major. Below are the two major themes in the selection put into notation to prove that this piece is in this key.