Kinshi Tsuruta - Japon: Satsuma biwa (Ocora, 1991)

Japon: Kinshi Tsuruta - Satsuma biwa (Ocora, 1991)
Tracks 1 & 2 recorded in 1985, track 3 recorded in 1972
Featuring Yukio Tanaka, Mikirô Saïtô and Shunji Iwasa on biwa on tracks 1 & 2

0:00 1. Banquet de printemps
20:00 2. Yoshitsune
44:45 3. Dan no ura
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"1. Banquet de printemps [Spring banquet]

In Princess Murasaki's palace garden, the subtle wafting fragrances of the flowers and the singing of the birds carries everyone off into dreams of springtime. Floating on the garden pond, is the boat, which the courtisanes leave regretfully, decorated by Prince Genji in Chinese style with a dragon's head. At nighttime, music is played by torchlight. The Princess, princes, ministers and very highly talented musicians all join in the festivities. Throughout the whole evening they play and sing without a break.

2. Yoshitsune

Three episodes of the life of the hero Yoshitsune are sung and recited one after the other. Yoshitsune is sailing into exile with an escort of faithful vassals when he meets with the evil spirit of Tomomori, commander of the enemy heike clan, which Yoshitsune wiped out in a naval battle at Dan no ura. The avenging spirit tries to pull them down to the bottom of the sea, but thanks to the prayers that Benkei recites with his beads, the spirit weakens and moves away. On their arrival in Yoshino, Yoshitsune advises his mistress Shizuka to leave him and await his return in the capital. Tearful scene of separation. They arrive at the frontier station of Ataka, which is heavily guarded by soldiers, disguised as Buddhist monks with their porter. Since the head guard seems to have noticed something suspicious about the porter, Benkei cries: "Go on porter, get through there you loaf!", with a sharp box about the ears to the latter who is no other than Yoshitsune. Having in this way just scraped through the Ataka frontier post, Yoshitsune and Benkei fall into each other's arms, with Yoshitsune thanking Benkei for having beaten him in order to save him, and Benkei asking his master's forgiveness for having knocked him about.

3. Dan no ura

Dan no ura is a beach in northern Kyrishil which was the scene of an historical naval battle between the Heike and the Genji clans in 1185. The text, taken from the Heike epic poem, is a rather free adaptation. What follows is a summary of the text of Dan no ura: thanks to a favorable current, the Genji manage to infiltrate the three lines of Heike ships. Fierce close combat between soldiers of both clans. The Heike clan is overcome and their leader who is still only a small child throws himself into the sea with his mother and servants, hoping to see his capital again beneath the sea. The deserted ships drift aimlessly on the waves, buffeted senselessly by a spring breeze."

~Akira Tamba (translated by Jeffrey Grice)
Source: CD booklet
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