Songs from Momotaro -
A Tale of Bravery
A Tale of Bravery
Production Notes:
This production's success has been a complete surprise each time I have staged it because the story is basically unknown to the children. However, it has many elements that spark young children's vivid imaginations.
All I have to say is this is a Japanese Superhero show, and those 5-10 year old boys are all over it. They love being able to do martial arts moves, create their fantasy character masks, and become Demons.
The girls love playing with their little baby dolls, doing beautiful dances, and using the Chinese ribbon wands. They especially love the castle set with dragons painted on the doors and using a long piece of blue fabric to create a river.
Many viewers have commented how this story is so beautiful with its stylized Kibuki theater staging techniques, graceful dances, colorful costumes, and culturally inspired music.
This production's success has been a complete surprise each time I have staged it because the story is basically unknown to the children. However, it has many elements that spark young children's vivid imaginations.
All I have to say is this is a Japanese Superhero show, and those 5-10 year old boys are all over it. They love being able to do martial arts moves, create their fantasy character masks, and become Demons.
The girls love playing with their little baby dolls, doing beautiful dances, and using the Chinese ribbon wands. They especially love the castle set with dragons painted on the doors and using a long piece of blue fabric to create a river.
Many viewers have commented how this story is so beautiful with its stylized Kibuki theater staging techniques, graceful dances, colorful costumes, and culturally inspired music.
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"Prologue" is sung by the entire cast as they enter, bow, and introduce the story of Momotaro.
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"Raided! Pillaged!" is sung by the farmers and villagers who discover that their fields have been trodden, their stores of grain stolen, and all of their tools and weapons taken again by the evil Oni Monsters.
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"Here By the River" is sung by a group of women who bring their babies and baskets of clothes to wash by the blue fabric river.
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"This Is Momotaro" is sung first by the Old Man and Woman, then joined by townsfolk.
They raise the baby and the Old Man teaches him martial arts so that he can be the hero of their village. |
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"I Am Momotaro" is sung by the grown-up Momotaro who is presented as the brave Samurai Warrior and ready to go off on his quest to rid the village of the evil Oni Monsters.
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"The Quest" is sung first by Momotaro and later joined by the Monkey, the Dog and the Pheasant.
Featured are beautiful Tree Dancers who provide the scenery for Momotaro traveling through the forest. |
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"Hero" - Sung by the Kamikaze Wind Spirit, the River Spirit, and the other Spirits. This song tells of the making of a Hero.
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"Glorious! Victorious" is sung by the returning heroes and the townsfolk.
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"Epilogue" is sung by the entire cast as the summation of the adventures of Momotaro and the animal heroes.
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Full List of Songs
Overture, Prologue, Raided! Pillaged!, Here by the River, The River Spirit, This Is Momotaro, Time Spirits, I am Momotaro, The Quest, Fighting the Demons, Revealing the Treasure, Hero, Glorious! Victorious!, Epilogue, Bows, Exit Music, Play-Off
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