Noh
is a sophisticated musical drama that relates a felicitous or
often tragic story. A masked protagonist performs in dance and
song, with one or two others in unmasked subsidiary roles, accompanied
by a chorus, drums and flute. Shorter comic play called Kyogen
are interspersed to enliven a full performance. Noh's restrained
conventions of movement and texts full of poetical allusions
achieved much of their present form by the mid-15th century
under the enthusiastic patronage of the Ashikaga shoguns.
The warrior elite patronized Noh in the 16th century when many
warlords were accomplished amateur performers. Noh drama in
the Edo period became the official entertainment of the shogun
and daimyo. Noh performances were obligatory at ceremonies and
festive occasions throughout the year and to celebrate special
events. Most daimyo families had a stage and a collection of
Noh and Kyogen costumes, masks, and simple props to use whenever
professional actors were called in. The amateur tradition continued.
Practice in singing the texts was part of the education of any
lord, and many are recorded as being talented dancers.
Noh
is a sophisticated musical drama that relates a felicitous or
often tragic story. A masked protagonist performs in dance and
song, with one or two others in unmasked subsidiary roles, accompanied
by a chorus, drums and flute. Shorter comic play called Kyogen
are interspersed to enliven a full performance. Noh's restrained
conventions of movement and texts full of poetical allusions
achieved much of their present form by the mid-15th century
under the enthusiastic patronage of the Ashikaga shoguns. 
