Catalog of Shōdan: Entrance and Exit Music

Ashirai

Percussion
Flexible
Flute
Non-congruent

The Ashirai is used as an entrance or exit music for the shite, as well as for an onstage costume change. It is usually followed by a Sashi or Kakaru. In Hashitomi’s case, it is followed by an a capella song set in sashinori.

The nohkan’s part is a variation on the four-line roku no ge pattern. After performing the standard first three lines followed by a variation on the fourth one, the nohkan player repeats the second and third lines followed by the standard fourth one.

The concert version presented here is shorter, the nohkan part limited to the roku no ge's four lines.

Example in the Play:

Hashitomi - Ashirai