Matching - Aikata

A term used in Japanese music. It refers to a lengthy interlude that is composed of a certain theme, as opposed to a short "ai-no-te" between songs. It gives the singer a break, emphasizes the content and mood of the lyrics, and is created as a highlight for the shamisen. Those called proper nouns include "sarashi no awase" in "Sarashime" and "Echigojishi", "kaji byoushi awase" in "Kumo no hyoushimai" and "Kokaji", and "Tsukuda no awase" in "Azuma Hakkei". There are also "yuki no awase" which expresses the cold and snow, and "chidori no kyoku" which expresses the sound of waves and the voice of plovers. Even if a song has lyrics, it is called awase when the song is eliminated and only the shamisen is played. In Kabuki's geza music, among the songs used as accompaniment to create a scene or psychological depiction, those without vocals are called agata, and percussion instruments are often added to these to emphasize the atmosphere and create an effect. In Noh, the instrumental music played to the beat of the Noh play, namely the playing of the small drum, large drum, and taiko drum, is called agata.

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

邦楽用語。唄(うた)と唄との間をつなぐ間奏のうち、短い「合の手」に対し、ある主題をもって構成される相当の長さのものをいう。唄い手に休息を与えるとともに、歌詞の内容や気分を強調し、三味線の聞かせ所としてつくられるもの。固有名詞でよばれるものに『晒女(さらしめ)』『越後獅子(えちごじし)』などの「晒しの合方」、『蜘蛛の拍子舞(くものひょうしまい)』『小鍛冶(こかじ)』の「鍛冶拍子の合方」、『吾妻(あづま)八景』の「佃(つくだ)の合方」などがあり、別に寒さや雪を表す「雪の合方」、波の音や千鳥の声を表現した「千鳥の曲」などがある。唄のある曲でも、唄を廃して三味線だけを奏するときに合方とよぶ。歌舞伎(かぶき)の下座(げざ)音楽では、情景や心理描写をかもし出す伴奏に使われる曲のうち、唄のないものを合方といい、これにしばしば鳴り物を配して雰囲気を強調し効果をあげる。また能楽では、謡曲の拍子にあわせてはやす器楽、すなわち小鼓(こつづみ)、大鼓、太鼓(たいこ)の奏技を合方とよぶ。

［松井俊諭］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例