The newly formed Andromeda Ensemble will be premiering Japanese Death Poems – Book One at the Royal Academy of Music (ABRH), at 6:30 on Tuesday 18th January. Click here for details
Penning a ‘death poem’ in one’s final moments’ is an ancient Japanese tradition, and when I came across Yoel Hoffman’s compilation Japanese Death Poems – written by Zen monks and Haiku poets on the verge of death, I was immediately drawn to them musically.
The six poems below make up something of a song-cycle, but for an ensemble of six instruments, and where the poems are reflected more as musical ‘accompaniments’ than being set word-for-word.
The six movements run without a break; the first and last being scored for the full ensemble, and the inner movements featuring four duets (enhanced by percussion). The fifth movement (for Alto flute, ‘cello and Tibetan bowl) is a version of a Honshirabe (meaning ‘one’s own song’) – a traditional, plaintive music played on the Shakuhachi.
Themes of death, nature and rejuvenation are (inevitably) conspicuous elements, as the movements move through a variety of moods, from meditative acceptance to more visionary or violent outpourings.
Japenese Death Poems – Book One, is dedicated to the Andromeda Ensemble for whom it was written, and as a modest memorial piece in memory of Oliver Knussen.
I.
A tune of non-being
Filling the void:
Spring sun
Snow whiteness
Bright clouds
Clear wind.
DAIDO ICHI’I (1370)
II.
I came into the world after Buddha.
I leave the world before Miroku.
Between the Buddha of the beginning
and the Buddha of the end
I am not born, I do not die.
UNGO KIYO (1659)
III.
To hell with the wind!
Confound the rain!
I recognize no Buddha.
A blow like the stroke of lightning-
A world turns on its hinge.
NAMPO JOMYO (1308)
IV.
Katsu!
On the death bed – Katsu!
Let he who has eyes see!
Katsu! Katsu! Katsu!
And once again, Katsu!
Katsu!
YOSO SOI (1458)
V.
I pondered Buddha’s teaching
A full four and eighty years.
The gates are all now locked about me.
No one was ever here –
Who then is he about to die,
And why lament for nothing?
Farewell!
The night is clear,
The moon shines calmly,
The wind in the pines
Is like a lyre’s song.
With no I and no other
Who hears the sound?
ZOSO ROYO (1276)
VI.
You must play
The tune of non-being yourself –
Nine summits collapse
Eight oceans go dry.
ZOSAN JUNKU (1308)
Japanese Death Poems – Book One will be available from Composers’ Edition soon after the premiere