The World of Bunraku

The Music of Bunraku

Bunraku is a truly collaborative effort between puppeteers, chanters, and musicians. The puppeteers do not speak; it is the chanters who recite all the spoken parts and the narratives, altering their voices to represent each of the characters as well as to provide the narration. The musicians accompany them on the three-stringed shamisen.

The following selected audio files illustrate the complexity and variety of narration and music in Bunraku.

Audio Files 

Columbia University Libraries' Bunraku audio files are available through GloPAD, the Global Performing Arts Database. View rights and permissions

Sonezaki shinju / The Love Suicides at Sonezaki

About this play:

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Audio files:

• Opening announcement for the performance Ikudama Shazen scene, September 12, 1971 - September 19, 1971
• Opening narration to Ikudama Shazen scene from Sonezaki Shinji, Tachimayo-u
• Tenjin Woods scene narration

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Heike nyogo no shima (The Priest in Exile)

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Audio file:

• Narration

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Hadesugata onna maiginu (A Tragic Love Triangle)

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Audio files:

• Music from scene Sakaya no Dan from the performance on May 10, 1975 - May 24, 1975
• Narration from scene Sakaya no Dan, also from the performance on May 10, 1975 - May 24, 1975