Japanese Noh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUTG6N0KFj4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quqqc1shAtU
The Noh play is a slow motion play and most of the actors play as slow as the theme song goes; to try and mimic the slow weightless floating of the music. The music group in the background known as the hayashi consists of three different drums and a bamboo flute. The drums have an unusual pattern and the flute always plays in and out of the melody freely. The play is mostly about the queen, king and the bad guy. They wear the traditional clothes and in the back ground are pretty much simple. The music although limited in instruments surprisingly enough can make several different melodies and sets the mood for the whole play. Another thing is the open area that the stage sits in; that is the seating is around the stage or in front of it which seems quite open. The actors’ movements seem predicated on the music, like he is playing off of the hayashi. Another thing that was noticeable is the masks the actor(s) wear. The masks painted have a deep meaning and represent the center emotions that underlie the play. The actors movements are often slow and graceful; the whole play as a matter of fact is a slow moving story without words and is entirely dependent on the actor’s abilities and the musicians.