List of Noh plays
This is a complete list of extant pre-modern Noh plays, their supposed authors, and categorisations. A short English translation of the title is given where one exists. A list of those plays which have a separate article on Wikipedia can be found here.
Categories of plays
Some plays are given different names by different schools. The words bangai kyoku signify that a play is no longer part of current repertoire.The number in parentheses after the play title refers to the play type: god plays; warrior plays; woman plays; madman plays; and devil plays.
The first group of plays are congratulatory pieces and have the atmosphere of rejoicing. The shite is a god who praises the peace and prosperity of the land and performs a dance in celebration. Famous examples are Takasago and Chikubu-shima.
The second group of plays features a shite that is generally a famous warrior of either the Taira or the Minamoto clan. In most plays, the ghost of the warrior appears and tells of the torments it is suffering, but in certain plays such as Tamura and Tadanori, which belong to this class, the atmosphere is rather one of quiet elegance. Famous examples are Michimori and Ebira.
The third group of plays features a shite that is usually a young and beautiful woman, and the atmosphere in play of this class is of gentle, elegant beauty. Apart from the dances, these pieces usually have little movement, but the music is more melodious than in other plays and takes a large part in achieving the total effect. Famous examples include Izutsu, Hagomoro, Yo-hiki.
The fourth group of plays contains twice as many plays as any other group and includes many different types, but in general these plays are more dramatic than any others. They include "madman" pieces ; "mad-woman" plays ; "present-life" pieces, in which the shite is, with only one or two exceptions, a man and unmasked ; "obsession" pieces.
The fifth group of plays usually features a shite that is a supernatural being, a god or a devil in some form. The plays in this group generally have two acts, and the tempo is faster than in other plays. Famous examples include Orochi, Kurama Tengu, Shakkyo.