Heian court lady's song; kouta (accompanying ōuta)
Historical term for a song sung by court ladies during the Heian period, performed as accompaniment to the men's ōuta. The singer herself could also be referred to as 小歌.
See also: 大歌
kyogen kouta; love ballad in kyogen
A style of song in kyogen theater, based on Muromachi-period popular songs, often dealing with love themes.
noh kouta; unusual noh song style
An uncommon style of song in noh theater, also derived from Muromachi-period popular songs.
In the Heian-era court, the kouta was sung to accompany the ōuta.
The kouta of the Muromachi period became the origin of later ko-uta and ha-uta.
Many kyogen kouta are songs about love.
The noh kouta is an unusual form that differs from standard noh chanting.
Another later form derived from the kouta, popular in the Edo period, typically shorter and lighter.
Literally 'small song' (小 'small' + 歌 'song'), contrasting with 大歌 ('large song'). The exact historical derivation of the musical forms is uncertain.