Gagaku is associated with some of the earliest forms of musical art in Japan, a refined expression crystallized in a centuries-old tradition, the result of cultural influences from China, India, Vietnam and Korea. Dance is often combined with instrumental music and is closely linked to Shinto rituals and traditional imperial court ceremonies. The first part of the concert features kangen (woodwinds and strings) compositions which are purely instrumental, while the second part is dedicated to bugaku (music and dance). Gagaku, which attained its definitive form over 1,000 years ago, has been passed down from generation to generation practically unaltered till this day. Today’s performers are the keepers of this tradition and the Reigakusha Imperial Orchestra is considered the world’s leading expression of this genre. A wealth of sounds rival those of western symphony orchestras and are produced by woodwinds like the hichiriki, ryuteki and shō, string instruments like the gakuso and gakubiwa, and percussion instruments like the kakko, taiko and shōko. Upending western musical canons, an unexpected world of musical delights awaits.