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How do Noh drum calls help performers control rhythm?
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Japanese music
Courtesan playing a samisen, Japanese woodcut print.
In Noh music, the drummers' vocal calls, known as kakegoe, are essential for both the performance and recognition of specific drum patterns. These calls serve several critical functions in managing the music's rhythm:
- Signal and Control: The manner in which the kakegoe are performed helps drummers signal and control the timing of each beat, which is particularly important because Noh rhythm is often highly elastic.1
- Unique Identification: Along with the drum sounds themselves, the calls help give each stereotyped pattern a unique aural image, allowing performers to navigate the progression of the music.1
- Support and Coordination: While the vocal line and the drums may have different rhythmic spacing, the kakegoe help support the vocal line and coordinate the ensemble, ensuring that the relationship between the song and the rhythmic accompaniment remains controlled and logical.1
By providing these cues, the kakegoe act as a fundamental tool for maintaining the internal logic of the performance, much like how musical theory guides the structure of Western music.1