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Meriyasu

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Japanese style of music

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), meriyasu came to denote a form of theatrical music which expanded and contracted in order to fit the events unfolding on stage. 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. Despite this, the genre is still classified as a subset of nagauta ("long song") music.

References

  1. Tai Whan Kim (1976). The Portuguese Element in Japanese: A Critical Survey with Glossary. Inst. de Estudos Românicos. p. 30. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Santō, Kyōden (1783). "Sake Cup". World Digital Library (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  5. 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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