Japan is Superior

Music of the Japanese Noh classical theater is extremely distinguished. The actress of this particular Japanese Noh performance moves rather slowly almost like she is gliding while moving her fan up and down to the chants and accompaniment by the hayashi. Elements of the Japanese Noh based on this performance include a hayashi that includes a taiko, o-tsuzumi, ko-tsuzumi, nohkan, and a small male chorus that does all the chanting and singing. It includes the nohkan being the only melodic instrument aside from the singing of the male chorus. There are also hollers and howls from the drummers. The drumming patterns are varied - different drummers play different patterns, which creates an unsynchronized effect, but the fact that the drumming is layered makes it distinctive. There is a freedom of rhythm, sometimes when it gets louder the rhythm is faster. The melodious music you hear from this performance is all from the nohkan and some of the male chorus, the other percussion instruments and the disgruntled-like chanting establishes an inconsistent beat. Since the nohkan is the only melodic instrument, it leads the hayashi. The melodies provided by the nohkan are brief and stereotyped. The actress is the main focus of the performance, using exaggerated gestures and fan waving along with the immensely decorated costume, which includes a mask.