About NOH
by Richard Emmert
What is noh?
Noh is a classical Japanese performance form which combines elements of dance, drama, music and poetry into one highly aesthetic stage art. Largely based in the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, it is performed throughout the country by professional artists, mainly men, who have passed down the art among family members for numerous generations. There is also a wide following of both male and female amateurs who practice and perform its chant, dance, and instruments.
Kyogen is the classical comic theater which balances the more serious noh. While noh is musical in nature, Kyogen emphasizes dialogue. The two are traditionally performed alternately on the same program and they share a common heritage. In addition to their own Kyogen repertoire of comic plays, Kyogen actors usually appear in interlude roles in noh plays. Similarly, noh instrumentalists also sometimes appear in Kyogen plays. The training methods of the two forms are also similar.
Noh Background and Bibliography
Noh Glossary
Click here to view our Noh Glossary
Bibliography
Clilck here for the bibliography
