Meriyasu is a type of music used in kabuki theatre performances in Japan.
Originally derived from the Portuguese word meias, meaning a stretchy material (and still used today to refer to knitted garments),[1] meriyasu came to denote a form of theatrical music which expanded and contracted in order to fit the events unfolding on stage.[2] Played on the shamisen, meriyasu interludes are generally called for to accompany sections of dialogue. As a result, they are usually instrumental solos, rather than songs.[3] Despite this, the genre is still classified as a subset of nagauta ("long song") music.[4][5]
References
edit- ^ Tai Whan Kim (1976). The Portuguese Element in Japanese: A Critical Survey with Glossary. Inst. de Estudos Românicos. p. 30. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ Alison McQueen Tokita; Dr. David W. Hughes (2008). "The" Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-7546-5699-9. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ William P. Malm (2000). Traditional Japanese music and musical instruments: the new edition. Kodansha International. p. 244. ISBN 978-4-7700-2395-7. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ 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. ISBN 9780837169002. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
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