Music in School Dramas at Seijo Elementary School

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  • 成城小学校における学校劇の研究 : 音楽的側面に着目して
  • セイジョウ ショウガッコウ ニ オケル ガッコウゲキ ノ ケンキュウ : オンガクテキ ソクメン ニ チャクモク シテ

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School dramas in Japan originated with Kuniyoshi Obara in the Taisho period, and they were performed at Seijo Elementary School. This study examines the musical developments related to drama at that elementary school from the later years of the Taisho period to the early Showa era. From an examination of school records, it is evident that many songs were used in Seijo Elementary School’s drama productions. Most of those songs were original compositions by music specialists, such as Tadashi Yanada and Toshiaki Okamoto, who taught music at the school. Some established songs were also used, for example, Jinjo Shogaku Shoka and Doyo. An analysis of the music reveals that the newly written songs were considered appropriate range and tonality because musical specialists composed. Those new songs also employed the Japanese musical scale. However, it was the playwrights who decided where to use music in their plays, and they wrote the lyrics. Thus, the composers were unable to create their works just as they wanted. The use of music in a play depends upon the style of the drama. Some dramas use songs in which the lyrics express the thoughts and feelings of the characters in the play. The style of the dramas presented at Seijo Elementary School changed with time.

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