This interview with SHIBA Sukeyasu, master of the transverse flute used in gagaku, has revealed the following: 1. Gagaku, originally transmitted from the Asian mainland, has developed into a typically Japanese heterophonic music, by means of transformation of its melodies through centuries of performance. 2. In its performance, each player must perform his part while listening carefully to other parts in the ensemble, because in many cases a certain melodic or rhythmic movement in one part functions as the cue for the other parts. 3. Performance of this heterophonic music is facilitated by the way in which it is learnt, that is by an orally-transmitted system of onomatopoeic rendering of the parts of the wind instruments of the ensemble known as shōga. The acquisition of shōga, the melodies of which are similar to that of the hichiriki, the main melodic instrument of the ensemble, enables not only its players but also its listeners to understand gagaku performance in a clearer fashion.
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