Etenraku (越天楽, literally music brought from heaven[1]) is a Japanese gagaku melody and dance.
It is usually played with a hichiriki or ryūteki,[2] and is accompanied by other traditional instruments such as the shō, koto and kakko.
There are theories that the melody was created in Japan, but others believe that it is from Khotan, a tributary state of the Tang dynasty that became part of the repertoire of the Chinese court.
[3] During the Heian period, a gagaku form known as imayō (今様, literally modern style) became popular.
[4] In 1931 Hidemaro Konoye arranged an orchestral version of the piece, and it was later picked up by Leopold Stokowski.