Shōdan in Okina
Zatsuki-bue
Nohkan
Non-congruent
The zatsuki-bue is a nohkan solo performed during the musicians’ setup on stage. The composition consists of a sequence of three distinct phrases, performed without interruption. The register of the opening motives of each phrase outlines an up-down arch-shaped melodic contour: ‘Hi-u,’ is in the lower register; the second, ‘O-hya,’ is in the higher register; and the third, ‘Hi-ya,’ is in the middle register. The zatsuki-bue concludes with the exceptionally high-pitched Hishigi pattern.