囃子はやし方かた

noun

musical accompanist (noh, kabuki); background instrumentalist

Refers to the musicians who provide instrumental accompaniment in traditional Japanese theater, especially noh and kabuki. Can also refer to the background instruments themselves.

• 能のう楽がくでは、囃子はやし方かたが笛ふえや小こ鼓つづみなどを演えん奏そうする。

  In noh, the hayashikata play instruments such as the flute and small hand drum.

• 歌か舞ぶ伎きの舞ぶ台たいでは、囃子はやし方かたが黒くろ子こ姿すがたで演えん奏そうすることもある。

  On the kabuki stage, the hayashikata sometimes perform dressed as stagehands in black.