Shikinoyamamba - Mountain witch of the four seasons

The title of a Nagauta (long song). The lyrics are said to have been written by Lord Nanbu Satake Toshimitsu, but some say it was Lord Mori or a maid living in a certain mansion. The composer was Kineya Rokuzaemon 11th. It was first performed on March 7, 1862 (Bunkyu 2) at Lord Nanbu's residence in Azabu, Edo. At the time of the first performance, the title was "Shin Yamauba" (New Mountain Uba) and it was a simple song, but now it has the word "simple dance" in it. It is a story about Yaegiri, a prostitute from Kujo Village, Kyoto, who raises Kaidomaru (later known as Sakata Kintoki) in the mountains of Ashigara, a type of so-called "yamaubamono" (mountain witch story), in which the mountain witch recalls her past work in the brothel along with the scenery of the four seasons. Compared to other genres of "Yamaubamono" that have a dramatic structure, this is a lyrical piece.

[Kiyoko Moteki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

長唄(ながうた)の曲名。作詞は南部侯佐竹利済といわれるが、一説に毛利侯とも、某屋敷住いの女中ともいわれる。作曲は11世杵屋(きねや)六左衛門。1862年（文久2）3月7日、江戸・麻布(あざぶ)南部侯邸で初演。初演時の曲名は『新山姥』で素唄であったが、現在は素踊(すおどり)がつく。元京都九条の里の遊女八重桐(やえぎり)が、足柄(あしがら)山中で怪童丸（後の坂田金時(さかたのきんとき)）を育てる話、いわゆる「山姥物(やまんばもの)」の一種であり、山姥(やまうば)が昔の廓(くるわ)勤めを四季の風物とともに思い出すというもの。劇的な構成をもつ他のジャンルの「山姥物」に比べ、叙情的な作品につくられている。

［茂手木潔子］

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