Ondo (music)
Encyclopedia
is a type of Japanese folk music genre.
, or the Chinese characters used in the Japanese language
, often have literal and abstract meanings, here the kanji for "sound" (音-on) having a more abstract meaning of "melody" or "music," and the kanji for "head," (頭) having a more abstract meaning of "beat," "base pattern." Hence "ondo" probably refers to a kind of "sound" or "beat pattern."
There are other names used to describe older Japanese genres of music. For example "fushi" or "bushi
" (節), with its literal meaning of "node," "knuckle," or "joint," refers to the nodes found in bamboo, usually found at a steady sequence. Thus "fushi" can also have the abstract idea of "sequence" to refer to notes and beats in a sequence, ie, a melody.
An "ondo," however, usually refers to a kind of song with a distinct swung 2/2 rhythm
. This "swing" can be referred to as "ukare" in Japanese. "Ondo" is a term used in older Japanese genres, but it is still used today when referring to songs written in this swinging style. Sometimes the rhythm is NOT swung and it is played straight through. This is called "kizami".
Not every old Japanese melody with a swung rhythm is called an "ondo," as sometimes the term "fushi" or "bushi" is used to refer to a tune with a swung 2/2 rhythm, both of these having more or less the same meaning of "tune" or "melody." The folk song Goshu Ondo
, for example, does not follow this rule, as the rhythm is NOT played in a swung fashion. The folk song Tankō Bushi
has a swung 2/2 rhythm, even though it has "bushi" in its name.
In Japanese folk music, "fushi" and "ondo" follow the name of the song. For example, Tokyo Ondo, Mamurogawa Ondo, and Hanagasa Ondo
all have "ondo" in their names. Kushimoto Bushi, Burabura Bushi, and Soran Bushi
all have a rendering of "fushi" in their names.
celebration involves participating in the local community dance. The tradition of the Bon dance, or Bon Odori (盆踊り) dates back a few hundred years, and it is usually accompanied by the local tune. In recent times, however, new music has been used for Bon dance accompaniment, including late enka
hits, and new music written specifically for bon dancing. The "ondo" rhythm has always been common in Japanese folk music, but even the newer music written for Bon dances has been written in this style. It is so common to find names of newer music with the word "ondo" attached to it. For example, the Pokémon Ondo, the Naruto
Ondo, the Hunter x Hunter Ondo, the Doraemon
Ondo, Ojamajo Doremi Ondo Kyoryu Ondo, etc. To be fair, even non-ondo music is starting to make the bon dance scene. The selection ranges from traditional sounding enka, such as Hikawa Kiyoshi's "Zundoko-bushi," to more modern non-Japanese hits, such as the Beach Boys's "Kokomo
."
Etymology and description
The literal translation of "ondo" is "sound head." KanjiKanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
, or the Chinese characters used in the Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, often have literal and abstract meanings, here the kanji for "sound" (音-on) having a more abstract meaning of "melody" or "music," and the kanji for "head," (頭) having a more abstract meaning of "beat," "base pattern." Hence "ondo" probably refers to a kind of "sound" or "beat pattern."
There are other names used to describe older Japanese genres of music. For example "fushi" or "bushi
Bushi (music)
is a type of Japanese folk music genre.The Japanese term , originally used in Buddhist folk music in Japan, simply means "melody". Like the generic term ondo, bushi, the voiced form of fushi, is used as a suffix for Japanese folk songs....
" (節), with its literal meaning of "node," "knuckle," or "joint," refers to the nodes found in bamboo, usually found at a steady sequence. Thus "fushi" can also have the abstract idea of "sequence" to refer to notes and beats in a sequence, ie, a melody.
An "ondo," however, usually refers to a kind of song with a distinct swung 2/2 rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
. This "swing" can be referred to as "ukare" in Japanese. "Ondo" is a term used in older Japanese genres, but it is still used today when referring to songs written in this swinging style. Sometimes the rhythm is NOT swung and it is played straight through. This is called "kizami".
Not every old Japanese melody with a swung rhythm is called an "ondo," as sometimes the term "fushi" or "bushi" is used to refer to a tune with a swung 2/2 rhythm, both of these having more or less the same meaning of "tune" or "melody." The folk song Goshu Ondo
Goshu ondo
The is a type of ondo , a traditional Japanese dance song. It originated in Shiga Prefecture which was formerly known as Gōshū. It is believed to have been perfected around the Meiji Era.- Form :...
, for example, does not follow this rule, as the rhythm is NOT played in a swung fashion. The folk song Tankō Bushi
Tanko Bushi
is a Japanese folk song. Despite the term "fushi/bushi" found in its name, the rhythm is in swung, ondo style. It is a song about coal mining, and it refers to old Miike Mine in Kyūshū...
has a swung 2/2 rhythm, even though it has "bushi" in its name.
In Japanese folk music, "fushi" and "ondo" follow the name of the song. For example, Tokyo Ondo, Mamurogawa Ondo, and Hanagasa Ondo
Hanagasa Ondo
Hanagasa Ondo is a folk song from Yamagata prefecture, Japan. The name literally means "flower straw-hat song." It accompanies a local community dance called the "Hanagasa Odori."...
all have "ondo" in their names. Kushimoto Bushi, Burabura Bushi, and Soran Bushi
Soran Bushi
Sōran Bushi is one of the most famous traditional songs in Japan. It is a Japanese sea shanty that is said to have been first sung by the fishermen of Hokkaidō, northern Japan....
all have a rendering of "fushi" in their names.
Folk music and Obon
Part of the Japanese ObonObón
Obón is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 75 inhabitants....
celebration involves participating in the local community dance. The tradition of the Bon dance, or Bon Odori (盆踊り) dates back a few hundred years, and it is usually accompanied by the local tune. In recent times, however, new music has been used for Bon dance accompaniment, including late enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
hits, and new music written specifically for bon dancing. The "ondo" rhythm has always been common in Japanese folk music, but even the newer music written for Bon dances has been written in this style. It is so common to find names of newer music with the word "ondo" attached to it. For example, the Pokémon Ondo, the Naruto
Naruto
is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
Ondo, the Hunter x Hunter Ondo, the Doraemon
Doraemon
is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...
Ondo, Ojamajo Doremi Ondo Kyoryu Ondo, etc. To be fair, even non-ondo music is starting to make the bon dance scene. The selection ranges from traditional sounding enka, such as Hikawa Kiyoshi's "Zundoko-bushi," to more modern non-Japanese hits, such as the Beach Boys's "Kokomo
Kokomo
-Places:* Kokomo, Indiana, a city located in Howard County, Indiana, United States, that is also its county seat** Indiana University Kokomo* Kokomo, Mississippi, United States* Kokomo, Hawaii, United States - on the island of Maui...
."