sankyoku

Sankyoku (三曲) is a Japanese term that literally means "three pieces" or "three tunes." In music scholarship and criticism, sankyoku is used to describe a performance, program, or repertoire that consists of three distinct musical pieces or sections. The concept is descriptive rather than tied to a single fixed format, and the specific content of a sankyoku can vary by tradition and period.

In traditional Japanese music and theater, sankyoku can indicate a three-piece sequence within a larger program or a three-instrument ensemble assembled for a specific performance. In some courtly or ceremonial repertoires, three short pieces may be grouped together as a unit, with performers on different instruments depending on the school or context. Because practice varies by region and lineage, there is no universal lineup for a sankyoku.

In modern contexts, sankyoku is sometimes used in concert programming or music education to designate a set of three pieces studied or performed together as a cohesive unit. The term remains primarily descriptive, signaling a tripartite structure rather than a formal genre.

Etymology and usage: sankyoku derives from the Sino-Japanese characters 三曲, with san meaning "three" and kyoku meaning "piece" or "tune."

Related topics include traditional Japanese music genres and practices such as gagaku and noh, as well as various instrumental repertoires that may be organized into tripartite programs.