Kabuki: (lit. song, dance, and acting): theater form of Edo; absorbed previous theatricals
1596: first kabuki performance by Shinto dancer named Okuni.
First kabuki troupes consisted of prostitutes, subsequently banned.
Kabuki actors influenced dress, speech and morals in Edo.

Components of kabuki music
History: First kabuki music consisted of noh hayashi; performed on noh stages.
Shamisen appeared between 1620 and 1650 (kouta and kumiuta).
Nagauta developed to supply theater with longer shamisen compositions.

On-stage music: nagauta, tokiwazu, kiyomoto, gidayu, shinnai, katobushi
Musicians visible, playing on stage to heighten theatricality.

Off-stage music (geza):
Shamisen: most common off-stage melody instrument;
provides atmosphere; evokes a place, time or mood.
Two kinds of geza shamisen music: original and borrowed
 Many pieces borrowed from defunct styles of shamisen.
Meriyasu shamisen: background music for actors’ dialogue.
 
 Flutes (both on- and off-stage):
Nokan: plays adapted from noh begin and end with noh flute;
  also imitates gagaku flute (ryuteki) to indicate court setting.
 Shinobue (bamboo flute): festival scenes; substitute for shakuhachi.

Odaiko (large taiko): originally used as a signal instrument outside theater.
During plays odaiko creates atmosphere: water, wind, rain, snow, etc.
Utilitarian purpose of drum: covers backstage noise.

 Wide variety of percussion: drums, gongs, cymbals, bells, clappers