長唄としては最も知られている名曲の一つです。麻布不二見坂南部邸の周辺の秋の景色をうたい、情趣を表わそうとする一種の描写曲です。

ＡＫＩ　ＮＯ　ＩＲＯＫＵＳＡ (Naga-uta)
　(THE COLORS OF AUTUMN)

This is one of the most well-known songs in its genre. The song depicts the autumn scenes near the Nanbu mansion in Azabu Fujimazaka. It is a descriptive type of song that expresses the mood of this autumn setting.

白拍子が男舞姿で、玄宗皇帝と楊貴妃の恋の情景を踊って始まり、鳥帽子を取ってクドキになり、手踊り、羯鼓の舞、引抜いてテンポの早い鈴太鼓の踊りと続き、終わりを中啓の舞で結んでいます。短い曲の中にこのようにさまざまな趣向が織りこまれていて、それが多くの見どころになっています。また、舞の荘重さと軽妙さ、早さとゆるやかさなどの対照的な変化が、曲の中や振りにも巧みに生かされているので、それがこの作品の魅力になっています。

ＡＳＡＺＵＭＡ　ＢＵＮＥ　(Naga-uta)
　(THE ASAZUME SHIP)

In the beginning of the dance, the performer is dressed as a court noble as she performs a dance of love between a Chinese emperor and his lover. The headwear is then taken off to change the direction of the dance. Next,the dance changes to a hand dance, which is then followed by a handdrum dance. Then, the tempo is quickened by the beat of the bell and drum. The dances are tied together at the end by a fan dance. The unique feature to watch for in this dance is the way in which the various devices are cleverly woven into this short song. The way in which the solemnity and the subtle nuances of the dance are expressed in the song and in the movement and skill of the performer is the special appeal of this piece.

江戸下町の風流を織りまぜ、四季折々の雨の情景をうたっています。くだけた洒脱さや洒落気もあり、踊りとしては見どころの多い作品です。

ＡＭＥ　ＮＯ　ＳＨＩＫＩ　(Naga-uta)
　(THE FOUR SEASONS OF THE RAIN)

This song depicts the rains that fall with each season, combining the aesthetic atmosphere of the old commercial neighborhood of Edo. The dance is full of style and wit, with many appealing features that are enjoyable to see.

「三番叟もの」の中でもこの「操り三番叟」は変種と言われているように、およそ原形である能の三番叟とは趣の変わったもので、文字通り糸操りの人形になって三番叟が踊るという奇抜な発想のものです。その奔放な技巧を見せることが中心になっていますが、リズミカルでテンポも早く、明るく派手に踊り抜く振付のおもしろさが十分にある作品です。

ＡＹＡＴＳＵＲＩ　ＳＡＮＢＡＳＯＵ (Naga-uta)
　(MARIONETTE SANBASOU)

This piece is often set apart from the other dances that fall under the "Sanbasou"theme. It differs from the Sanbasou dances that originate from the Noh version in that this dance is based on the imaginative concept of Sanbasou performing the dance as a puppet who is manipulated by strings. The ability of the performer to express marionette-like movements through uninhibited technique and actions is the main appeal of this dance. However,this piece is full of other appealing features, such as the rhythmical quick tempo, and the bright, flashy choreography.

端午の節句を中心に、初夏の薫風の季節を唄ったもので、あやめ、飾り兜、菖蒲酒といった端午の風物を詠みながら、浴衣姿の女立ちで大川端の風情を描写しています。

ＡＹＡＭＥ　ＹＵＫＡＴＡ　(Naga-uta)
　(THE IRIS YUKATA)

This song centers around the Boys' Festival which occurs in the beginning of May. It sings of the season of early summer in which the light, fragrant scenes and symbols of the Boys' Festival, such as the iris, decorative samurai helmet, and iris sake.

粟餅は江戸時代に流行した餅の一種で現在も作られていますが、粟餅屋が曲搗をしてみせ、代る代るに芸をする風俗舞踊の一つです。

ＡＷＡＭＯＣＨＩ　(Tokiwazu)
　(MILLET RICE CAKES)

Awamochi is a type of rice cake that was popular during the Edo Era and is still made today. This is a traditional dance in which the awamochi vendors take turns pounding rice cakes as they perform various acts.

題名通り、伊勢神宮へ参拝の道中のさまざまがうたわれています。

ＩＳＥ　ＳＡＮＧＵ　(Naga-uta)
　(HOMAGE TO THE ISE SHRINE)

As the title may imply, this dance portrays the various scenes that one may encounter on his journey to pay homage to the Ise Shrine.

「田舎巫女」は、一定の神社に落ちついている巫女（神子）ではなく、外を歩き回った梓巫女に取材して、それをおもしろく舞踊化したものですが、独特な扮装での滑稽な振りが見どころにもなっています。

IＮＡＫＡ　ＭＩＫＯ (Naga-uta)
　(THE RURA SHIRINE GIRL)

"The Rural Shrine Girl" is not about a girl who lives and works at a shine out in the country, as one may expect. Instead, it is a story of a shrine girl from the Azusa Region who makes her living traveling from place to place. This light-hearted dance and the comical costume of the girl will make this an amusing performance.

鳴滝八幡の社頭で、女大名が迷って来た猿を捕らえ、靱の皮にするために飼主の猿曳きに売ってくれと頼むが断られ、弓に矢をつがえて射殺そうとするので、猿曳きは是非なく承諾して猿と別れの一節を唄うと、猿は殺されるのも知らずに舟を漕ぐまねをして舞うので大名も哀れになり、ついに命を助けてやり目出度く納まるという筋です。

ＵＴＳＵＢＯ　ＺＡＲＵ (Tokiwazu)
　(UTSUBO ZARU)

In front of Narutakihachiman, a female lord captures a monkey who wanders into the shrine and asks the monkey trainer to sell her the monkey so that she can use its skin to make a leather quiver. At first, the monkey trainer refuses, but when the lord places an arrow in her bow to kill the monkey, the monkey trainer is left no choice and reluctantly agrees to part with his monkey. The monkey trainer begins to sing a last farewell song and the monkey, not even knowing that his death draws near, begins to dance to the song, pretending to row a boat. The female lord is deeply moved by this performance and decides to spare the monkey's life, bringing a happy ending to this dance.

卯年の春を詠んだかと思うと、たちまち佃の端唄がかりを聞かせ、深川芸者の気っぷのよさを匂わせたり、そして隅田川の川船や都鳥などの風物から、また正月の鳥追いや万歳などまで器用に唄いこまれています。新春らしいはずんだ陽気さとしゃれた軽妙さなどは、いかにも江戸っ子好みといえます。

Ｕ　ＮＯ　ＨＡＮＡ　(Kiyomoto)
　(THE FLOWER OF THE RABBIT)

This song begins with the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, but suddenly changes to the lighthearted song of Tsukuda. This song expresses the stylish sharpness of the Fukagawa geisha and depicts the scenes from the Sumida River through scenes of river boats and birds. The song then moves back to the New Year's season as it cleverly incorporates the various activities of the holiday, such as "torioi"and "manzai," the festive dances of the season.The carefree cheerfulness and stylish, lighthearted joyfulness of this dance express a bright feeling full of hope that gives this piece a flavor that is well-liked by the "Edokko." ("Edokko" is a person born and raised in Edo, whose family has been in Edo for at least three generations. He is characterized by his lively spirit and compassion for others).

御祝儀曲らしい品格や詩情を織り込んだ曲で、梅の花を主題にめでたいものづくしで曲を展開させています。

ＵＭＥ　ＮＯ　ＳＡＫＡＥ　(Naga-uta)
　(PROSPERITY OF THE PLUM)

This song incorporates the grace and poetic sentiment that are characteristic of this type of festive song. The theme of this song is the plum blossom, but as the song progrosses, it reveals various symbols of joy and prosperity.

春の隅田川から吉原の四季の行事や廓の情緒などをうたっています。全曲を通じて上品で、粋で色気もあり、そして派手で賑やかでまたしっとりしたところもあるという風に、あらゆる要素がふくまれている名曲です。御祝儀ものの素踊りとなっています。

ＵＭＥ　ＮＯ　ＨＡＲＵ　(Kiyomoto)
　(SPRING OF THE PLUM)

This song begins with the spring scenes of the Sumida River and then moves to the seasonal events of the Yoshiwara District, showing the atmosphere and flavor of the red-light district. This masterpiece incorporates various features throughout the entire song, expressing a refined,stylish seductiveness in some parts, and showing a flowery, lively dancemoving to a calm, serene dance in other parts. This is a non-prop dance that is often performed in celebrations.

龍宮から帰った浦島が、乙姫を憶いつつ玉手箱を開けると、白髪の老人となるという筋です。美しい旋律を多く盛り、浦島の心もよく出ています。

ＵＲＡＳＨＩＭＡ　(Naga-uta)
　(URASHIMA)

This song depicts a Japanese folk tale of a young man named Urashima who is invited to the Dragon Palace under the sea for saving a turtle's life. When Urashima returns back home, he finds that many year had elapsed during the few days he spent at the Dragon Palace. When he opens up the gift boxes, lovingly thinking of the Princess of the Sea who had given them to him, a puff of smoke appears and Urashima turns into an old man with silvery white hair. This song focuses on this very scene. The song utilizes many beautiful melodies and brilliantly expresses Urashima's feeling at the moment of change.

江戸時代に、越後の国から出て来た角兵衛が江戸市中を歩いて踊りや軽業を見せ、銭を貰ったのを描写したものです。賑やかな中にひなびた情緒のある変化に富んだ曲に合わせての晒振りは見ごたえのあるものです。

ＥＣＨＩＧＯ　ＪＩＳＨＩ　(Naga-uta)
　(The Lion of Echigo)

This dance portrays a story from the Edo Era in which a lion dance performer from Echigo arrives in Edo and makes a living walking through the town,dancing and performing other forms of entertainment. The swinging of the lion's mane is in harmony with the song as it changes between a lively town atmosphere and rustic tones of the country.

長唄が歌舞伎から離れて素の演奏用として作られた最初の曲で、歌詞は謡曲の「老松」からとっています。老松のめでたさからはじまり、松にちなんだ風景や風物などが変化のある曲調で展開されます。御祝儀曲で、全体の上品さの中にも艶のあるものとなっています。

ＯＩＭＡＴＳＵ　(Nagauta, Kiyomoto, Tokiwazu)
　(OLD PINE)

This song is the first of its kind in which a song was taken out of the Kabuki performance to stand on its own. The verse was taken from the Kabuki song with the same title. It begins with the joy and happiness represented
by the old pine. It then changes and moves to reveal the scenes and customs associated with the pine. This is a festive song that embodies a brilliance within the refined and polisha feeling that is expressed throughout the song.

歌舞伎の創始者といわれる出雲の阿国が、恋しい山三を偲んで男舞いを舞い、山三の身の上を案じながら念仏踊りを踊るというものです。

ＯＫＵＮＩ　ＦＵ−ＲＹＵ　(Shin-Hougaku)
　(AESTHETIC OKUNI)

In this dance, Okuni of Izumo, who is said to be the founder of Kabuki,performs a male dance as she thinks affectionately of her lover Sanza. She dances a prayer dance, as she worries about the safety of Sanza.

風雪に耐えて初めて花を咲かせた梅の木が、まだ見たこともない鶯の訪れを待っている。そこへ烏が現れて鶯だと言ってうまくだまし、大いに歓待されているところへ本物の鶯が現れ、化けの皮を剥がされるといういかにも分かりやすい狂言仕立でユーモラスな味の作品です。

ＯＵ　ＳＨＵＫＵ　ＢＡＩ　(Naga-uta)
　(THE NIGHTINGALE IN THE PLUM TREE)

A plum tree who has opened its first blossoms after enduring the harsh winter snow is awaiting the arrival of the nightingale whom it has never seen. A common bird comes to the tree, claiming to be a nightingale. As theplum tree extends a warm welcome to the false nightingale, the real nightingale arrives to reveal the deception put on by the fallacious bird.This humorous piece has an easy-to-understand plot that is performed in the style of a Noh comedy.

近江八景になぞらえた八変化舞踊の一つで、大力の娘近江のお兼が取巻の若い衆を使って相撲の行事、力持ちからクドキ、そして布晒しの振りとなります。今回はお兼の一人踊りとなります。

ＯＵＭＩＮＯ　ＯＫＡＮＥ　(Naga-uta)
　(OKAME OF OUMI)

This dance is one of the dances with eight changes. Okane is a very strong maiden and the dance usually begins with Okane playing sumo with the young men and showing off her strength.In today's performance,"Okane" will be performed as a one-person dance.

若い娘が、花の散る野辺を背景に逝く春を惜しむという、もの憂いような哀愁が漂ってくる詩情の美しい曲です。

ＯＳＨＩＭＵ　ＨＡＲＵ　(Naga-uta)
　(LAMENTABLE SPRING)

This song portrays a young girl lamenting the passing of spring as flower blossoms scatter and fall in the fields behind her. This song is full of beautiful poetic sentiment that carries with it a feeling of languid melancholy.

油屋の娘お染と丁稚の久松は、想合の仲にありながら添われぬのを悲しんで隅田堤へ道行して心中しようとします。

ＯＳＯＭＥ　ＨＩＳＡＭＡＴＳＵ　(Kiyomoto)
　(OSOME AND HISAMATSU)

This is a love story between Osome, the daughter of an oil vendor, and Hisamatsu,the apprentice. Sadly knowing that social barriers will prevent their love for each other from being fulfilled,they travel together to the banks of the Sumida River so that they may leave this world together.

主人である塩谷判官が刃傷という突発事件を起こし、その騒ぎを知らず逢瀬を楽しんでいた勘平は、不忠の申し訳なさに切腹しようとしますが、これをお軽が止め、郷里の山崎へ旅立つという筋です。お軽と勘平の切羽詰まった悲しい道行ではありますが、桜と菜の花が咲き誇る戸塚の山中という華やかな舞台です。

ＯＣＨＩＵＤＯ　(Kiyomoto)
　(FUGITIVE)

Kanpei's master, Enya Hangan, draws his sword in a place where it is Forbidden to draw swords. This causes much chaos and trouble for the master.Unknowing of his master's situation, Kanpei is out enjoying a rendezvous
with Okaru. When Kanpei later finds out what had happened, he feels so bad for his inappropriate behavior that he decides to commit suicide. Okaru stops Kanpei from killing himself, but with nowhere else to turn, they go
away together to their native village of Yamazaki. This dance contrasts the sad journey of Okaru and Kanpei, with the brightly lit stage of cherry and rape blossoms as they bloom along the mountain path of Totsuka.

清十郎の死に悲嘆の余り狂ったお夏が、晩秋の野辺に狂いさまよううち,里の子にからかわれ、酔った馬子に絡まれ、いつしか日暮れた道をいそぐ巡礼を清十郎と見間違い、悄然と立つ哀れな姿を描いたものです。

ＯＮＡＴＳＵ　ＫＹＯＵＲＡＮ　(Tokiwazu)
　(THE CRAZED ONATSU)

A young maiden,Onatsu, becomes crazed from sadness at the loss of herlove,Seijuro. In this dance, Onatsu wanders the fields on an autumn night,taunted by the local kids, and "hit-on" by a drunken horse driver. Shepasses a night-time traveler hurrying down the path and mistakenly thinks he is Seijuro. Her pitiful figure as she stands with heavy heart looking after him is beautifully portrayed in this performance.

江戸名物神田祭に浮かれ出た小粋な江戸芸者が、若衆を相手に祭り情緒を踊りで見せ、また恋の達引を一人で色っぽく踊ります。

ＯＭＡＴＳＵＲＩ　(Kiyamoto)
　(FESTIVAL)

A stylish Edo geisha is drawn into the merriment of the Kanda Festival, one of the main attractions of Edo. With the local youngsters as her partners, she dances in the streets, expressing the festival atmosphere through her
dance. She also performs a seductive solo dance of a love.

大川端に近い舟着場の川岸で、お染に許嫁の久松をうばわれたお光が、お染と久松の仲を恨み、悲しむものです。

ＯＭＩＴＳＵ　ＫＹＯＵＲＡＮ　(Tokiwazu)
　(THE CRAZED OMITSU)

Along the riverbed of a boat anchorage near Ohkawabata, Omitsu loses her fiance Hisamitsu, to Osome. This dance portrays Omitsu's bitterness and sadness toward Osome and Hisamitsu's relationship.

薪を売り歩く大原の里の女の踊りで、始めはお多福の面をかむり、引抜いて国入奴となります。在所女のひなびた踊りからきびきびした奴へ変わる柔剛の踊り分けが魅力です。

ＯＨＡＲＡ　ＯＮＮＡ　(Nagauta)
　(OHARA WOMAN)

This dance portrays a woman from Ohara as she walks the streets selling firewood. She first places the mask of a homely woman on her face, then she becomes a footman, preparing to enter the city of Edo with his lord.The change from the rural dance of the woman from the country to the sharp movements of the footman, and the skill with which the soft and hard sides of this dance are performed, is the special appeal of this dance.

オランダに万才があるわけではなく、「もしオランダに万才があったならこんなであろうか」と新しく洋楽器も加えて編曲されたのがこの曲です。

ＯＲＡＮＤＡ　ＭＡＮＺＡＩ　 (Bukyoku)
　(A DUTCH COMEDY)

This is not a Dutch comedy. Instead, this is a Japanese image of what a Dutch comedy would be like, using Western instruments in the presentation of this new dance.