Word of the Month: July

July: 囃子

(hayashi)

Hayashi. “Orchestra.” Kabuki uses musicians who play percussion and wind instruments. The four basic instruments adopted from the Noh are the flute (fue), small drum (kotsudumi), large drum (otsuzumi), and stick drum (taiko), though a number of other instruments are used as well. A broader usage of the term hayashi includes the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese guitar, and vocal accompaniment.

There are 3 meanings for the verb for hayasu which, although related, are different from the word hayashi. The first definition is to accompany music with clapping or singing.  The second definition is to play hayashi, and the third is to mock or jeer.

References

KABUKI ENCYCLOPEDIA by SAMUEL L. LEITER