During the upcoming early summer weeks, one can experience a wide variety of fine hogaku concerts, including sublime gagaku court music, a lively group of kagura performers from Iwate Prefecture, contemporary koto music played by several fine young women performers, a large-scale biwa presentation and the National Theater's presentation of winners of its annual hogaku composition contest.

Gagaku, originally from China, has been the official music of Japan's Imperial Court since the 9th century, making it the oldest extant orchestral music in the world. Through the centuries the performance styles and tempos have changed considerably, but the music, with its rich timbres, enchanting rhythms and haunting melodies still continues to fascinate the sensitive listener.

The Tokyo Gakuso, a group formed in 1977 whose core musicians include the top performers from the Imperial Household Agency Music Department (the national standard setters for gagaku music), will perform a selection of instrumental (kangen) and vocal (utaimono) gagaku pieces, including roei and saibara.

Saibara was influenced by the popular songs of the Heian Period and is a fine example of how the ancient court musicians refined and gentrified the plebeian music while maintaining a rhythmical liveliness. Roei consists of Chinese poetry set to free rhythm. Performances of the vocal genres of gagaku music are somewhat rare, and the Tokyo Gakuso will offer the best there is.

Kagura is the music and dance utilized in Imperial Court and Shinto rituals. In the context of ceremonial officialdom, however, kagura performances, like gagaku music and bugaku dance, are usually very slow, dignified, ritualized affairs.

Another kind of kagura, however, sato (village) kagura, developed outside the Imperial court to celebrate and ceremonialize the lively rustic traditions of provincial Shinto. Sato kagura incorporates quick dances, fast music, and never shies from raunchy humor. It is extremely entertaining to watch.

The Kuromori Kagura, from the Rikuchu area of Iwate Prefecture, performs around the country and represents one of the best local sato kagura traditions. Their dances include the lion dancers who visit the local households during the New Years to pray for health and prosperity; there are dances which re-enact old Shinto tales and lively musical dances to banish evil spirits.

"Gagaku no Niwa" by Tokyo Gakuso, 7 p.m. June 22-23; "Kagura no Niwa" with the Kuromori Kagura, 6:30 p.m. June 25, 2 and 6:30 p.m. June 26, 1 p.m. June 27. All performances at Geki Shogekijo (across from the Honda Gekijo, Shimokitazawa Station, Inokashira and Odakyu lines.) Admission 3,500 yen. For more information or reservations, call the theater at (03) 3466-0020.

Nineteen of the country's best biwa performers will gather at Tokyo Shoken Kaikan Hall June 20 for the Japan Biwa Music Association's annual summer all-style recital. The deeds and dooms of samurai heroes from Abe no Nakamaro to Saigo Takamori will be sung again as they have been through the centuries to the accompaniment of the Japanese lute.

Biwagaku Enso Taikai, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. June 20 at Tokyo Shoken Kaikan Hall, Exit 8 from Kayabacho subway station. Admission 2,000 yen. For information contact Nihon Biwagaku Kyokai (03) 5371-0120, fax (03) 5371-0230.

Two young koto performers, Tomoyo Kirioka and Hayami Maruoka, will be presenting a joint recital of contemporary koto music. This will be an excellent opportunity to hear a selection of representative works by some of the most important of Japan's late 20th-century hogaku composers: Tadao Sawai, Katsutoshi Nagasawa, Minoru Miki, Tokuhide Niimi and Takashi Yoshimatsu. Along with the traditional 13-string koto, the versatile 20-string koto and 17-string bass koto will also be featured.

"Koto Joint Concert" 7 p.m. June 24 at Nishi Nippori Sunny Hall Concert Salon, Hotel Lungwood 4F, (03) 3807-3211, outside Nishi-Nippori Station. Admission 2,500 yen in advance, 3,000 yen at the door. For information or reservations, call Japan Music Service (03) 3378-4741.

Another 20-string koto specialist, Akemi Yamada, will present the full "Ballades for Koto Solo" by Minoru Miki. This lovely piece comes to life under Yamada's expert hands. The price of admission includes a reception party afterward.

Yamada Akemi 20-String Koto Recital, 4 p.m. June 27 at Mujikaaza, near Yoyogi-Uehara Station on the Chiyoda subway line. 5,000 yen; reservations required. For more information, call Yamada at (03) 3702-3527, e-mail at [email protected].

The National Theater will present the winning compositions from the yearly Hogaku Composition Contest. Each year this competition selects the best from hundreds of entrees from young to mid-career composers. The level of winners is consistently high. This year's winning compositions include a piece for gagaku instruments by Takashi Ono, a duo shamisen piece by Ichiro Seki, a shakuhachi trio by Shigenobu Nakamura and several others.

The second half of the program features contemporary compositions by seasoned Japanese composers such as Toshi Ichiyanagi, Yoshio Mamiya and Minoru Miki.