Lesson 19: Music from Around the World

• Play the sourced Sakura opening and two contrasting studies.
• Hear how different sets of notes change a phrase’s sound.

Compare two practice studies with a published Japanese melody. Listen for the small and large steps between notes; one tune cannot show every style from a country.

Drill — major-scale rhythm

G major: count “1-AND-2-and” for each short–long pair.

C major: count “1-AND-2-and” for each short–long pair.

Drill — natural minor

Compare D natural minor’s B-flat with the major study’s B natural.

Compare G natural minor’s E-flat with the major study’s E natural.

Play: Sakura — 1888 opening

This excerpt uses a five-note Japanese in scale on A; its close half-steps help give it its sound. Play every B as B-flat.

This excerpt uses a five-note Japanese in scale on D; its close half-steps help give it its sound. Play every E as E-flat.

Source: Tokyo Academy of Music (1888), No. 2; upper sung line, transposed; koto and slurs omitted.

Now play these

Sakura — complete 1888 sung line

Count all four final silent bars.

Santa Lucia and Kalinka — later study

Return after Lesson 34’s chromatic and rhythm preparation.

Usagi Usagi — complete 1937 melody

Compare its scale and count the final half note rest.

When the three scales sound distinct and your pulse stays steady, continue to Lesson 20.