Pine green - Matsu no Midori

The title of a Nagauta song. Composed by Kineya Rokusaburo IV (later known as Rokuo). It is said to have been written during the Ansei period (1854-60), and was sung at the Napirome ceremony for Rokuo's daughter. The song likens the daughter to the freshness of young pine leaves, and asks her to have the dignity to go from being a kamuro to a tayu in the future, thus congratulating her on her future. As the piece is short overall, it is considered an introductory piece to Nagauta, and is often used as a practice song for geza (lower-class performers), but the balance between singing and shamisen is difficult, there are few specific melodic progressions, and the vocal range is high, so skill is required to express the mood of the song. There is also a congratulatory song for Utazawa of the same name, with lyrics by Kanagaki Robun and music by Utazawa Tosatayu.

[Kiyoko Moteki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

長唄(ながうた)の曲名。4世杵屋(きねや)六三郎（後の六翁(ろくおう)）作曲。安政(あんせい)期（1854～60）の作品といわれ、六翁の娘の名披露目(なぴろめ)の会に唄われた。娘を松の若葉の初々しさに例え、将来は禿(かむろ)から太夫(たゆう)になるべき風格を備えるようにと詠み、娘の前途を祝した内容。全体に短い作品のため、長唄の入門曲とされ、下座(げざ)の稽古(けいこ)唄などにもよく使われるが、唄と三味線の兼ね合いがむずかしく、具体的な旋律進行も少なく、声の音域も高いので、曲の趣(おもむき)を表現するには熟練を必要とする。なおうた沢の御祝儀曲にも、仮名垣魯文(かながきろぶん)作詞、哥沢(うたざわ)土佐太夫作曲の同名曲がある。

［茂手木潔子］

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