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Which instruments make up the hayashi ensemble in Noh music?
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Japanese music
Courtesan playing a samisen, Japanese woodcut print.
In Noh theatre, the hayashi ensemble consists of four specific instruments that provide instrumental accompaniment to the performance:12
- Nōkan: A type of flute.32
- Ko-tsuzumi: A small, hourglass-shaped hand drum held on the right shoulder.32
- Ō-tsuzumi: A larger hourglass-shaped hand drum held on the left hip.32
- Taiko: A stick-struck barrel drum set on a stand on the floor, which is typically used during dance sections of a play.342