Meriyasu

Shamisen music terminology.

(1) Nagauta is a short, lyrical piece sung solo to enhance the stage effects of scenes with little action, such as scenes of love and romance, hair combing, lamentation, and reminiscence, on the Kabuki stage. It is performed behind a black blind on the stage left of the stage, accompanied only by the shamisen. Most are gloomy and somber pieces in the Sansagari style, but there are also Niagari and Honcho pieces. The oldest surviving meriyasu is said to be "Muken no Kane" (Bell of Hell), sung by Sakata Heishiro at the Nakamuraza Theater in Edo in January 1731 (Kyoho 16). Other surviving pieces include "Momijiba," "Kurokami," "Godai Riki," "Akenokane," and "Shirotae." Other unique pieces include "Sayochidori," used in the seventh act of "Chushingura," and "Ruri no Tsuya," used when Oiwa combs her hair in "Yotsuya Kaidan." There are various theories about the origin of the word, but the commonly accepted theory is that it was named after the flexible stretchability of the woven knitted fabric (modaisho), which is sung in short or long in accordance with the actor's movements.

(2) In Gidayuu (a traditional Japanese musical syllabary), the shamisen does not accompany the narrator, but lightly plays a shamisen melody that accompanies the conversation and actions of the characters. It can be heard in the dialogue between Heisaku and Jubei in the Numazu chapter of "Iga-goe Dochu Sugoroku."

[Ueda Ryunosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

三味線音楽用語。

（1）長唄(ながうた)では、歌舞伎(かぶき)の舞台で、色模様、髪梳(かみす)き、愁嘆、述懐など動きの少ない場面に、その舞台効果を高めるために唄われる叙情的な短編の独吟(どくぎん)物。下手(しもて)の黒御簾(くろみす)の中で三味線だけを伴奏楽器として演奏される。大部分は三下(さんさが)りの陰気な沈んだ曲だが、二上(にあが)り、本調子のものもある。現存最古のめりやすは、1731年（享保16）正月、江戸・中村座で坂田兵四郎が唄った『無間の鐘(むけんのかね)』といわれ、そのほか伝存曲としては『もみじ葉』『黒髪(くろかみ)』『五大力(ごだいりき)』『明の鐘(あけのかね)』『白妙(しろたえ)』などがある。また特殊な曲に、『忠臣蔵』七段目に使う『小夜千鳥(さよちどり)』、『四谷怪談』のお岩の髪梳きに使われる『瑠璃の艶(るりのつや)』がある。語源については諸説あるが、俳優の動作にあわせて長くも短くも唄われるため、織物のメリヤス（莫大小）の伸縮自在に共通するとして名づけられたというのが通説である。

（2）義太夫(ぎだゆう)節において、三味線を語りの伴奏とはせず、人物の会話や動作に軽くあしらう三味線の旋律のことをいう。『伊賀越道中双六(いがごえどうちゅうすごろく)』の沼津の段で平作と十兵衛の対話の場面などで聞かれる。

［植田隆之助］

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