Elements of Japanese Noh Theater

After watching this video above and reading the textbook, my list of major elements of Japanese Noh Theater are as follows:

1) Props and settings used as symbols

This element is self-explanatory. The props used would be that of the mask like the one in the video.

2) Actors using stylized gestures to represent emotions

The book says that these gestures are typically familiar with the audience. After watching this video several times, I can say I am personally not familiar with these conventions. Your guess is as good as mine.

3) Nonpulsitile music from an ensemble (hayashi)

These dramas would be nothing without the hayashi. This ensemble sets the mood and environment. The hayashi is made up of four instruments: the nohkan bamboo flute and three small drums. The drummers also shout different things called kakegoe. In this particular video, I'm not sure what they are shouting but the textbook claims it is very important.

Northern India Music

This is a raga by Suvir Misra. This particular raga is Maru Behag. The man in the video appears to be playing the most common instrument of that region, the sitar. You can hear in the melody how one would think the sitarist is improvising but that is what a raga is; the melodic basis of a piece. There are many variations inside the raga.

In the background, you can see and hear accompaniment by a drummer who looks to be playing the tabla, a pair of drums that give off a distinct sound by either hitting the middle or the edge of the drums. The drummer also creates elaborate variations like the sitar.

Also, if you listen very closly, you can hear another element of Indian classical music. It would be the sound of a drone, or a constant sounding pitch. In this case, the constant pitch is coming from the sitar. The pitch creates the tonal foundation of the raga altogether.

Overall, I feel the variations throughout the raga give an exquisite listening experience. After hearing it, the song really doesn't feel like 10 minutes of music at all.

Googoosh's Geryeh Konam Yaa Nakonam

In this song, Googoosh is the epitome of the Middle Eastern elements of elaborate melodies and melismas. She uses her voice to show improvisation around the series of core pitches she sings throughout her song. With the mixture of her voice and the acoustic guitar give off the unique characteristic texture of heterophony, where the guitar has its own melody while Googoosh's voice has a different distinct variation of the melody. The percussion rhythms are very elaborate with many variations of its own.

This particular song almost sounds like it has Latin influences from the music and percussion, but also shows its Iranian roots with the lyrics that Googoosh sings. As far as what Googoosh is singing about, I'm not exactly sure. My guess from the video would be about some sort of love story.