Nagauta
Nagauta (長唄, literally "long song") is a kind of traditional Japanese music played on the shamisen and used in Kabuki theater, primarily to accompany dance and to provide reflective interludes.[1]
History
It is uncertain when the shamisen was first integrated into Kabuki, but it was sometime during the 17th century; Malm argues that it was probably before 1650.[1]
The first reference to nagauta as shamisen music appears in the second volume of Matsu no ha (1703).[1] However, there is no musical notation in this collection so it is only possible to make observations about nagauta lyrics, which tend to be longer than other texts.
The shamisen became an established instrument in Kabuki by the 18th century, when the basic forms and classifications of nagauta crystallized.[1] Nagauta music is a combination of different styles stemming from the music popular during the Edo period. Meriyasu is considered a subset of nagauta.[2][3]
Many of the "classic" nagauta repertoire was composed in the 19th century, which is the time of the best-known nagauta composers as well. Many pieces are based on Noh theater, partly because a lot of Kabuki theater was based on Noh plays and many were revived during the 19th century.[1] There is evidence of folk music's influence on nagauta too.[1]
It was during the 19th century that ozashiki nagauta (concert nagauta) developed. Ozashiki nagauta is shamisen music composed for non-Kabuki, non-dance performances in which virtuosity is emphasized. Two classic compositions of ozashiki nagauta are "Azuma hakkei" (1818) and "Aki no irogusa" (1845).
In the 20th century, a number of composers have integrated western elements, which includes playing the shamisen faster than normal, in violin cadenza style, or by using larger ensembles to increase the volume.[1] Nagauta is the basis of the Nagauta Symphony, a symphony in one movement composed in 1934 by composer Kosaku Yamada.
Further reading
- William P. Malm, Nagauta: the heart of kabuki music (C. E. Tuttle, 1963) Internet Archive copy
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Malm, William P. (1960). "A Short History of Japanese Nagauta Music". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 80 (2): 124–132 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Santō, Kyōden (1783). "Sake Cup". World Digital Library (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ William P. Malm (1963). Nagauta: the heart of kabuki music. C. E. Tuttle Co. p. 17. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
External links
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