perform music · report

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 奏 is associated with reporting or performing music; its on-reading is そう and its kun-reading is かなでる.
• Basic usage: 演奏(えんそう) means a musical performance, while 奏でる(かなでる) means to play music.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The instrument played and the piece performed
  • ピアノを演奏します means playing the piano. 曲を奏でた means that someone performed a piece; these examples make the instrument and the piece the respective objects of the actions.
  • 旋律を奏でる means playing a melody. 奏でる also appears with string instruments producing the sound.