This document discusses traditional Japanese theater forms such as Noh and Kabuki. It explains that Noh is a classical theater form that began in the 16th century, while Kabuki originated in entertainment districts but became very popular. Both forms reflect different social classes and time periods but use traditional Japanese pentatonic scales and vocalization techniques adapted from forms like narrative joruri singing. Accompanying music is typically provided by the shamisen instrument.

1. JAPANESE
THEATER
MR. CARLO JUSTINO J. LUNA
Malabanias Integrated School
Angeles City
MUSIC
Unit 4 – Musical Theater and Festivals of Asia

2. Japanese
Theater
Japan is rich in culture and
tradition.
Ikebana Sakura
Noh Kabuki

3. Japanese
Theater
• is one of the traditions that is very
popular until today
• is the traditional form of theater
which began at the end of the 16th
century
• became the most successful
theater entertainment in the red
light districts of the great cities
KABUKI

4. Japanese
Theater
• is considered the most important
Japanese contribution to World
Theater
KABUKI

5. Japanese
Theater
• Both noh and kabuki are unique
and genuine expressions of the
Japanese spirit and culture.
• However, they mirror taste and
ideals of different social classes, in
profoundly different environments
and periods.
NOH & KABUKI

6. • is one of the popular traditional
songs of Japan
• is a traditional song that produces
distinct characteristics used in the
Asian style of making melodies also
known as the pentatonic scale
SAKURA

7. Sakura
“Cherry Blossoms”

8. Japanese
Theater
• The pattern is mainly developed by
using the pentatonic style adopted
mainly from China.
• This style is mostly used in the
performance of noh and kabuki.
PENTATONIC SCALE

9. Vocal
Pattern &
Techniques

10. Vocal
Pattern &
Techniques
• or the continuous pattern
• used in speeches building up to an
explosive climax in the aragoto
(oversized, supernatural, rough
hero) style
• requires an extraordinary breath
control that only few experts
succeed in achieving
1. Ipponchōshi

11. Vocal
Pattern &
Techniques
• adapted from the chanting of jōruri (a
traditional Japanese narrative music in
which a tayū (太夫) sings to the
accompaniment of a shamisen)
• implies a very sensitive capacity of
riding the rhythms of the shamisen
(string instrument), declaiming each
accompaniment
2. Nori

12. Vocal
Pattern &
Techniques
• the subtle delivery of poetical text
written in the Japanese metrical
form of alternating seven and five
syllables
3. Yakuharai

13. Vocal &
Instrumental
Features

14. Vocal &
Instrumental
Features
• are accompanied by shamisen
music collected and popularized a
number of aspects from all
previous forms of Japanese music
Dances and Movements

15. Vocal &
Instrumental
Features
• Gagaku – classic court music
imported from China during the
18th century
• Kagura – performed in Shinto
shrines
• Nō – chant derives from shōmyō,
the sophisticated and rich tradition
of Buddhist chanting
Japanese Shamisen Music

16. Vocal &
Instrumental
Features
Nagauta
• is a love song which reached a
golden age in the first half of the
19th century as dance music for
the henge mono (quick-change
piece)
Japanese Shamisen Music

17. Vocal &
Instrumental
Features
Nagauta
• is very flexible, can be performed by one
shamisen or by an entire orchestra of 20
musicians
 10 are shamisen players
 while other play flutes
a. fue taken from the nō
b. drums (small drum-kotsuzumi; waist
drum-ōtsuzumi; stick drum-taiko)
Japanese Shamisen Music

18. JAPANESE
THEATER
MR. CARLO JUSTINO J. LUNA
Malabanias Integrated School
Angeles City
MUSIC
Unit 4 – Musical Theater and Festivals of Asia
THANKS!