Shōdan in Okina
Momidashi
This is a dance-to-text, the first shōdan of Okina’s second act. It is organized into three parts, the first two being exclusively instrumental, the singing of the text confined to the final third one:
Part I Sanbasō enters the stage as the nohkan is performing its Momidashi pattern. It lasts seven honji.
Part II Sanbasō sits at Square 1. It lasts fifteen honji.
Part III Sanbasō stands and goes to Square 3 to deliver its text. It lasts twelve honji
The nohkan opens the shōdan with its hishigi pattern, followed by the momidashi pattern, which consists of a single phrase that begins in the high register with the pattern "O-hya." This phrase is performed as Sanbasō sits at Square 1, thereby concluding Part I and marking the beginning of Part II, which is scored exclusively for percussion.
Throughout the shōdan, the three kotsuzumi players perform the four-beat pattern shown below, while the ōtsuzumi interjects strokes, often off the beat, creating an engaging rhythmic texture. This pattern was first introduced in the Senzai Second Song and Dance.
