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- Funabenkei -

船弁慶

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This is a Noh piece .

Funabenkei appears on the following albums:

    AlbumShakuhachiKotoShamisen
    Traditional Music of Japan, The - 01  (Listen)


      At the end of Act I the Shite (principal actor) as Shizuka went to the back stage to change costume and mask. The new mask is that of the ghost of Taira no Tomomori who was .a general of the Heike or Taira family, the enemy of the Minamoto family, and was destroyed by that family. Before the appearance of the Shite in the second act, there is the voyage scene of Yoshitsune and Benkei, his .first attendant, and others together with a boatman performed by the Kyogen. While upon the sea they are engulfed by a savage storm. The second act begins with the chorus describing the imaginative scene of the huge navy of the fallen Heike family. This is immediately followed by the appearance of the ghost of Tomomori at the curtain of the passage stage (Hashigakari). When Tomomori announce’s his name, the curtain is closed, and to the accompaniment of a fast instrumental ensemble piece, Haya-fue (fast-flute), the ghost runs on to the stage. The chorus sings at the beginning of the struggle between Tomomori and Yoshitsune which is continued in the intense dance-fight accompanied by the Hayashi in a piece called Maibataraki (dancing movement). After the dance the party begins praying by rubbing rosaries and finally the ghost is driven away by prayer. During the chorus illustrating these last scenes, the shout of the boatman is heard.



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