Kazuraki [Noh Song]

Kazuraki
There are only voice parts in this recording.
Script (English/Modern Japanese)
www.the-noh.co...
noh-sup.hinoki...
A group of Yamabushi (mountain priests, waki and waki-tsure) from Mt. Haguro in Dewa (Yamagata pref.) is on a pilgrimage to Kazuraki Shrine on Mt. Kazuraki (between Nara and Osaka). Snow starts falling, preventing them to continue their travel. Suddenly a Woman (shite in the first act) appears from the snowstorm and calls on the Priests, offering them a place where they can take cover. The Woman unbundles a bunch of twigs she was carrying and uses it to light a fire. Then she explains that the name of Mt. Kazuraki, derives from the Kazura vine used to make this bundle, called shimoto. She then recites the verses “On Mt. Kazuraki, where I bundle shimoto, the snow keeps falling, as I keep thinking of you”. Night falls. As the Priests prepare for their evening rituals, the Woman reveals to be the Deity of Mt. Kazuraki and asks the Priests to relieve her of her torment. Long ago, En-no-Gyōja (the mythical founder of “shugen-dō”, the ascetic practice that yamabushi priests follow) ordered the Deity of Kazuraki to build a bridge between Mt. Kazuraki and another sacred place, destination of yamabushi pilgrimage, Mt. Ōmine. However, since she was ashamed of her appearance, she only built the bridge at night. As a consequence, she could not complete the bridge, and En-no-Gyōja punished her by binding her with vines. After telling this story, the Woman vanishes.
A Local Man passing by meets the Priests and recounts the story of the Deity of Kazuraki and the stone bridge. As the Priests pray, the Deity of Kazuraki appears, with vines creeping over her body. The Deity reminisces about the mythical time when the goddess Uzume danced the in front of the Heavenly Cave to lure out the Sun Goddess who was hiding inside it. Then, she starts dancing. Soon dawn breaks and the Deity disappears into the mountain.
Sung by Kanze School