Kantan and Damask Drum

The opera was commissioned by Opernhaus Dortmund.^[1] Goehr, who was born in Berlin but grew up and worked in England, composed the works between 1997 and 1998. He chose pieces from Japanese Noh theatre by Zeami Motokiyo as basis for the work. He and Sarugai Koto wrote the English librettos using translations into English by Arthur Waley and Royall Tyler and the adaptations by Yukio Mishima. Part 1 is Kantan, Part 2 is Damask Drum, and Part 3, (Un)fair Exchange, is based on a folk play, a kyogen.^[1][2]

The operas were premiered at Opernhaus Dortmund on 19 September 1999 in German as Kantan – Die Seidentrommel, in a translation by Bernhard Helmich.^[1] The performance was conducted by Axel Kober and staged by Philipp Kochheim.^[1][3][4] Hannes Brock performed the leading role in the first two parts. The first performance in the UK was a joint project of the Aldeburgh Festival and Almeida Opera Festival on 21 June 2001, with David Parry conducting the Sinfonia 21.^[2]

The music was published by Schott Music.^[4] The duration is given as 90 minutes.^[1]