Ensemble History: Music of Japan Ensemble

The Music of Japan Performance Group began as a gagaku group in 1956 by then-graduate student Robert Garfias. In May 1960, the ensemble performed in the “Festival of Oriental Music and the Related Arts,” presented by the UCLA Music Department. The gagaku group was directed by Gordon Stone and the naga-uta group was directed by William Malm, with Joyce Malm as dancer. The groups remained extra-curricular “study groups” until 1964-65 when the course Music 45G/145G (Music of Japan) was offered for the first time. Instructors of the Music of Japan Ensemble include: graduate student Robert Garfias; Suenobu Togi (1962-93); Mitsuru Yuge (1962-89); Ikuko Yuge (1962-01); and Bill Shozan Schultz (1995-01).

The Music of Japan Ensemble Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Ikuko Yuge playing the koto Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Mitsuru Yuge playing the shakuhachi Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Suenobu Togi performing bugaku Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Suenobu Togi and Max Harrell with the Music of Japan Ensemble Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Ikuko Yuge playing the shamisen Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive