Women's gidayu is a traditional form of Japanese musical narrative. During its 350 year history it has had to cope with the problems imposed by a theatrical culture dominated by men, but has survived and is now receiving greater recognition than ever before. This is the first book in English on women's gidayu and introduces the performers, their musical narratives and the politics of their survival within Japanese performing culture. It offers a case study of the continuation of a music within the context of the Tokyo metropolis and provides insights into Japanese theatre traditions, particularly as they reflect notions of gender, culture and society.
Accompanying the book is a CD, that gives access to historical recordings of the plays discussed in the text. A. Kimi Coaldrake's book is a pioneering study of a traditional and important area of Japanese cultural life that has previously been little understood in the west. It will be of particular interest to those studying Japanese theatre and music and their role in society.
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Publisher: Routledge
Released: 1997
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