We’ll Gather Lilacs in the Spring Again

Tags

Novello, W War II, We'll Gather Lilacs, Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler

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Musical Observations

Tags

choka, flute, go and jo stops, Kagemochi, Tatsuaki

A bad musician

always blames his instrument.

Tatsuaki said

the go and jo stops in flutes

are not in accord

with the others and when played

together, sound harsh.

He recommended that stops

like these should be lifted

before the next one

is put down.  Kagemochi

disagreed.  It takes

modulation and true skill

to blow correctly.  You’ll see!

To Sanjo

Tags

Genji, Kaoru, Murasaki Shikibu, Nakanokimi, Sanjo

(Nakanokimi being serenaded)

 

To switch affection

to Nakanokimi was

to replace a love

unrequited, for something

less passionate and,

for her, humiliating.

The vesper bells rang.

The prince arrived, unhappy.

She was relenting at last,

in spite of herself.

He was irresistible.

He left for Sanjo,

to make plans to bring her back.

Kaoru wished he’d done the same.

No Reproach

Tags

Genji, Lady of Akashi, Murasaki Shikibu, Sumiyoshi Gukei

(Genji meets his daughter for first time: The Wind in the Pines,

Burke Collection, NY. Toso Mitsunori – 1583-1638)

 

When the snow drifted

and thick ice glazed the river,

the child and her doll

were despatched in a carriage,

without her mother,

but in the charge of her nurse.

It did not take long

till she transferred affection

to her generous guardian.

Genji visited

The Lady of Ashaki.

Could he make amends?

She offered him no reproach,

as they played a brief duet.

 

(A Rack of Clouds Sumiyoshi Gukei 1631-1705  Picture taken from a Tumblr site on The Tale of Genji: mostbeautifulgenji. The author didn’t say where they had found it. Will be glad to acknowledge location, if told)

The Concert

Tags

choka, envoi, Genji, ichikotsu, Murasaki Shikibu

A 13 stringed koto.  Photo originally

uploaded by Smgregory (Wikipedia)

 

To ichikotsu

mode, the instrument was tuned.

Third Princess tried hard

to blend with the others.

Willow-like, she stood,

her hair like trailing leaves.

But Murasaki’s

hair was a cascade in spate.

Some instruments move the gods

and demons also.

The envoi, in minor mode,

marked a subtle shift

in the harmonious play.

Discord crept in stealthily.

Leaving Akashi

Tags

Akashi, Genji, koto, Murasaki Shikibu, salt burners

(Scroll image:Museum Fine Arts, Boston_ Wm Sturgis Bigelow Collection)

 

Back in the city,

the salt burners’ pungent whiff

lingered on his clothes.

Before any discordance,

he hoped to return.

Would the koto stay in tune?

He wept to leave her,

as he’d wept on arrival.

When Murasaki was told,

about the lady,

she shrugged porcelain shoulders.

He took the reproof,

so gently given, yet wrote

two further love messages.

 

 

Israel in Egypt (Proms, 2017)

Tags

choral societies, epidemiology, Handel, Haydn, Horus, Israel in Egypt, Jenkins' Ear, Mad Cow Disease, Miriam, oratorio, Orchestra of Enlightenment, Pharaonic House, Proms 2017, Psalms, re-cycling, refugees, salvation, tsunami

 

Re-cycling, refugees, extreme weather,

epidemiology, pollution,

infant mortality and slavery,

with a soupcon of subtle parody

and tuneful Italian arias –

small wonder that Haydn, sobbing, remarked

that Handel was the Master of them all,

leaving his rivals in Stygian dark.

 

Everyone wants to view the mighty fall;

to see the baddies’ chariot wheels spark,

then sink in dense quicksand, or tsunami.

To hear chants, fugues, a rollicking chorus,

denouncing the worshippers of Horus…!

Even Jenkins, who had no ear (that year)

could not have failed to pick up on the vibe.

Flies, frogs, flux, Mad Cow Disease and a plague

on the Pharaonic House – who said that ‘nice

and stately’ was the way to go?  The dirge

was cut;  he reduced the lamentation.

This new work would focus on salvation.

The Psalms were fine, but throw out the hymnal:

focus on Miriam and her timbrel!

Massed choral societies could just let rip.

Oh, Orchestra of Enlightenment, play

your instruments, as in the score’s heyday.

 

The Akashi Lady

Tags

choka, Genji, Michinoku paper, Murasaki Shibuki, The Akashi Lady

 

Somehow the music

seemed uncannily sublime,

owing to context

and the monk’s skilful technique.

Maybe ambition

for his daughter inspired him.

As desired and planned,

Kenji wrote a note,

to which the father replied

on Michinoku paper.

Dignified response

whetted the prince’s desire.

The chill sea winds blew.

Would his lonely bed be warmed

by The Akashi Lady?

Kiri-Tsubo

Tags

choka, Kiri-Tsubo, koto, Murasaki Shikibu, Music, Otaki, Tale of Genji

 

 

Shadow of herself,

Kiri- Tsubo was wilting.

A hand-drawn carriage

took her from the Emperor.

Her ceremonies at

Otaki were conducted

with solemnity.

Inordinate love killed her.

On damp, chilly nights,

the music of the koto

plucked at his heart’s strings

and he could not bear to think

of their son, removed from court.

 

 

Wild Geese at Suma

Tags

Genji, koto, Murasaki Shikibu, Suma, sutras, wild geese

 

Should he send for her?

No, that would not be penance.

To fast, meditate

would be more apt, propitious.

The shells on the shore,

empty as past promises,

are crushed by the waves.

In the ebb and flow of life,

his thoughts are tossed like driftwood.

A gloomy koto

gives expression to his grief.

He intones sutras

as he hears the wild geese cry.

They choose to leave; he cannot.