Catalog of Shōdan: Introduction Chants

Kuri

Voice
Non-congruent
Percussion
Strict
Nohkan
Non-congruent

A high-pitched melodious and short einori chant sung by the shite, the jiutai, or both. Kokaji’s Kuri is set for jiutai accompanied by ōtsuzumi, kotsuzumi and nohkan.

Kuri's text is based on a sequence of 7 + 5 syllables but is classified as an arhythmic text. This is because one must be able to hear the subdivision of a text into two hemistiches for it to be considered a rhythmic text. The overall complex rhythmic organization of the Kuri makes it impossible to hear that the text is organized into two groups.

Kuri is one of the Introduction chants, although its introductory nature is rather ambiguous. Kuri's narrative introduces the story presented in the next shōdan, the Sashi, whose narrative is then fully developed in the next shōdan, the Kuse. Because the Kuri leads to the Kuse, it is classified as an 'Introduction' chant.

When sung by an actor, the Kuri often follows a Shidai-chant or Issei-chant. On the other hand, it precedes a Sashi when sung by the jiutai, as it is the case in Kokaji. It always concludes with its signature melisma called hon-yuri.

The nohkan performs two patterns during the Kuri. The first one, also called kuri, is short. The longer pattern, called yuri, follows.

Kokaji's Kuri is sung in tsuyogin style. For the most part, its melody is sung on the Medium/High tone. However, the module's name refers to the high pitch kuri; thus, the melody of Kokaji's Kuri includes four melodic motions towards the kuri tone. They appear as part of embellishments, and are highlighted in bold in the video's text. Finally, the signature closing melisma hon-yuri closes the chant on the Low tone.

Example in the Play:

Kokaji - Kuri