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Folktales from Japan, with their enduring appeal, have been passed down through generations and continue to captivate audiences today. Their main characteristics, such as their moral lessons and fantastical elements, make them a fascinating subject of study. These tales, deeply rooted in Shinto beliefs, have greatly influenced Japanese culture and society, adding to their allure. The stories embody many supernatural beings, such as yokai, gods, and spirits, that shape the narrative. The connection between the natural world and the spiritual realm is often emphasized, reflecting Japanese culture's deep reverence for nature. Furthermore, these folktales often underscore the importance of honor, loyalty, and perseverance, serving as a guide for individuals on how to navigate life's challenges with grace and integrity. The enduring popularity of these tales is a clear indication of their timeless wisdom and their ability to resonate with people from all walks of life, reassuring the audience about their relevance. One of the most famous folktales from Japan is "Momotaro, the Peach Boy," which teaches the importance of courage, friendship, and loyalty. These stories have been retold and adapted in various forms of media, such as literature, theater, and film, showcasing their enduring appeal and relevance in modern society. The tales used in this series of compositions by David Ezra Okonsar continue to captivate audiences worldwide. The music, composed of electronic instruments with the addition of a piccolo flute, viola, cello, and taiko drums, offers a unique listening experience. This unusual blend of instruments not only makes the compositions stand out but also creates a distinctive world that listeners are eager to explore. The music is atonal yet melodic, capturing many emotions and moods. TALES: I. Momotarō (Boy born from a peach) A childless old woman washed her clothes
II. Robe of Feathers
(The white feathers of her robe gleaming against
the pine trees)in a river and discovered a gigantic peach. When the mother and her husband opened the peach to take a bite out of it, they found the child. The boy claimed he was their son, given to them by the gods. Inspired by the words momo (peach) and taro (eldest son in the family), the parents named him Momotaro. When he was just five years old, he used a simple old knife to chop down a large tree. When Momotaro was ready, he left his parents to confront a group of Oni (demons or ogres) who were causing havoc in their land. These demons lived on a distant island known as Onigashima, or 'Demon Island.' During his journey, Momotaro befriended a talking dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, who agreed to help him in his quest in exchange for some of his provisions, the 'millet dumplings' or kibi dango. After a fierce battle at the demons' fortress, Momotaro and his animal companions forced the demons to surrender. With the demon leader as their captive and the demons' treasure in their possession, Momotaro and his newfound friends set off for home, their bravery and heroism shining through. A fisherman named Hairukoo finds a
lovely white
feather robe hanging on a pine tree in the spring. A stunning young woman approaches him and asks Hairukoo to fix the robe. "Oh," the maiden sobbed, "I can't go up into the sky without my feathered robe because if you keep holding onto it, I'll never be able to return to my heavenly home. Oh, kind fisherman, please put my robe back on." Her plea was filled with desperation and hope. However, the fisherman declines. Should the girl dance before him, he offers to restore the garment. "I will dance it here -- the dance that turns the Palace of the Moon around, so that even poor transitory man may learn its mysteries," the maiden replied. "However, I cannot dance unless I have my feathers." The fisherman consents, and the maiden executes a dance, vocalizing about her distant home on the moon. The fisherman appreciates her skills, but shortly after, she ascends into the air, her pristine plumage shining in contrast to the pine trees and the azure sky. She persists in singing and dancing, ultimately arriving at the Palace of the Moon. III. The Snow Bride (Yuki-Onna, the Lady of the Snow, changed into a white mist) As Mosaku and his trainee Minokichi
approached
a chilly river, they discovered a ferryman's cabin. When they awoke from their sleep in the hut, they found that a woman had killed Mosaku, dressed in white,using her icy breath. Minokichi's youth and attractiveness made her want to kill him as well, but she suddenly disappeared. Minokichi called his master and reached out to grasp his hand in the darkness, only to discover that it felt as cold as ice: Mosaku had passed away. The following winter, Minokichi met Yuki, a gorgeous girl who was applying to Yedo for a servant position. He proposed to her and they were married. They had ten gorgeous kids. One evening, Minokichi found himself reflecting on the strange encounter he made in the ferryman's cabin long ago. He couldn't help but compare Yuki, his wife, to the beautiful white woman from the ferryman's cabin. Suddenly, Yuki-Onna revealed her true identity, declaring, "I, Yuki-Onna, was the one who approached you that night and took your master's life!" With those words, the Lady of the Snow transformed into a wisp of white mist and gracefully disappeared through the smoke hole, never to be seen again. IV. Willow Wife (The great willow tree lay green and disheveled upon the ground) For many years, the villagers nurtured
a deep
love for a giant willow tree in their Japanese village, a symbol of their shared history and values. Heitaro, a teenage farmer, lived in the shadow of the willow tree, his heart intertwined with its ancient roots, forming a bond that transcended time. Under the willow tree, Heitaro met Higo, a beautiful woman who accepted his marriage proposal. The former Emperor Toba expressed his desire to construct a temple in Kyoto and the people were requested to help by offering the magnificent willow tree. Heitaro was struck with terror when his wife revealed the villagers' plan to chop down the willow tree. That night, he was jolted awake by a haunting cry. "Heitaro, it's getting darker!" his wife exclaimed. Murmurs resound around the room... "Heitaro, are you present? Listen! The willow tree is being taken down. In the moonlight, observe how its shadow quivers. I am the willow tree's soul. The peasants are murdering me. Oh, how they mutilate and shred me! Oh, Heitaro, how painful it is!" "My wife is Willow! Heitaro wept, exclaiming, "My beloved Willow Wife!" Then, a deafening crash shattered the silence. The once towering willow tree now lay sprawled on the ground, a lifeless green mass. Seeking the one he loved above all others, Heitaro searched the area around her. Willow's Wife had disappeared! V. White Butterfly (White butterfly was her sweet and loving soul) When Takahama, an elderly man who lived in
a little
VI. Vampire Cat (The
lovely maiden turned into a cat and sprang onto
the roof)home behind the Sozanji temple graveyard, became ill, his son and sister-in-law comforted him. A white butterfly, a mysterious visitor, fluttered into his chamber and alighted on his pillow. After a brief chase by Takahama's nephew, the butterfly led them into the garden, through the gate, and into the cemetery, where it hovered over a woman's tomb before disappearing. The young man discovered the inscription "Akiko" on the tombstone, indicating that she died at 18. His mother revealed that Takahama was once engaged to Akiko and had faithfully kept his vows. Takahama's daily visits to her grave, where he would lovingly place flowers and offer prayers for her rest, were a testament to his enduring love. Akiko, a gentle soul, was incarnated as after white butterfly after Takahama's passing. The Prince of Hizen's favorite lady, O'Toyo,
VII. The Firefly (I
dreamt that I became a firefly)was sleeping in the garden with him. They returned to the palace after sunset, not realizing that a big cat, a harbinger of misfortune, was pursuing them. O'Toyo went to her chamber and fell asleep, and the big cat followed her, jumped on her, and strangled her. Afterward, the cat concealed the dead body beneath the verandah and, with a mysterious and ancient magic, transformed himself into the likeness of O'Toyo. Unaware of what had happened, the Prince kept falling in love with the false O'Toyo, and became ill. A priest named Ruiten was designated to offer prayers on his behalf. Ruiten invited a young soldier named Ito Soda to watch the Prince. Ito Soda attempted to keep his eyes open, but he felt heavy. Despite the pain, he chose to defy the curse and continued his watch. The Prince started to recover once it was learned that the devoted Soda had maintained a watch. By feigning to carry a message from the Prince, Soda intended to murder the human-like cat creature. The phony O'Toyo took a halberd and set out to assault Soda, but in the struggle, she changed back into a cat and ran away. The cat made its way to the mountains, where it raised havoc on the local populace before being put to death by the courageous Prince of Hizen during a hunt. The Prince then recovered, and Ito Soda got the recognition and compensation he so properly deserved, bringing a sense of relief to all. As a young man from Matsue was walking
home
after a wedding. He was captivated by a firefly in front of his home. The firefly, a tiny beacon of mystery, approached him as he stood and meditated. He attempted to swat it with his stick, but it eluded him, fluttering away into the neighboring garden where his fiancée was living with her family. When he visited that house the following day, he was going to tell what had happened the night before but his fiancée, the family's eldest daughter walked in and said: "I didn't know you were here, but just a minute ago, you were in my thoughts. In my dream from last night, I turned into a firefly. I saw you as I was darting back and forth, thinking to tell you that I had mastered the art of flight, but you shoved me away with your stick, making the whole thing seem terrifying to me. It felt all genuine and beautiful..." The young man, his mind swirling with the weight of his fiancée's words remained silent. VIII. Princess Peony (The peony was found still in its vase, but dead and withered) Adzuchi-no-shiro, is an old castle in
Gamogun.
--------------------------------------------------Wealthy feudal lord Yuki Naizen-no-jo once ruled it. His daughter, Princess Aya, fell in love with her prospective husband, the second son of the Lord of Ako. However, she fell ill and couldn't eat or sleep near her marriage. Despite doctors from Kyoto, no help came. Her maid, O Sadayo, shared a puzzling encounter with lord Yuki Naizen-no-jo. She recounted how Princess Aya had a mysterious encounter with a young samurai, who vanished before she could express her gratitude. Princess Aya's illness continued but she was reinvigorated by the music of a biwa player. Lord Yuki Naizen-no-jo invited veteran officer Maki Hiogo to capture the samurai his daughter longed for. The samurai was dressed in embroidered peony clothes. Maki Hiogo, astonished by the young samurai's noble bearing, initially hesitated to touch him. However, he eventually seized him and held him tight. Feeling faint, officer Maki Hiogo fell to the ground, still grasping the young samurai. Maki Hiogo, just like the Samourai, was also dressed in embroidered peony clothes. Guards arrived, and Maki Hiogo shouted, "Come, gentlemen! I have caught him. Come and see!" However, they found only a large peony in his arms, a surprising turn of events that left everyone in shock. Lord Yuki Naizen-no-jo and Princess Aya arrived where officer Maki Hiogo lay. The Lord, with a knowing smile, said: "Ah! It is, as I said. No fox or badger spirit could pass our guards and enter this garden. The spirit of the peony flower took the form of a prince." His wisdom shone through, enlightening those around him. Lord Naizen-no-jo advised Princess Aya to show kindness and care for the peony. To everyone's amazement, the peony grew stronger and more vibrant, a living testament to the power of compassion. After Princess Aya's recovery, her father could no longer postpone her wedding with the young Lord of Ako. She married as intended, but the peony died and withered. The villagers called Princess Aya "Botan Hime" or Peony Princess. FR Les contes populaires japonais, qui ont toujours eu un attrait durable, ont été transmis de génération en génération et continuent de captiver le public aujourd'hui. Leurs principales caractéristiques, telles que leurs leçons morales et leurs éléments fantastiques, en font un sujet d'étude fascinant. Ces contes, profondément ancrés dans les croyances shintoïstes, ont grandement influencé la culture et la société japonaises, ajoutant à leur attrait. Les histoires incarnent de nombreux êtres surnaturels, tels que les yokai, les dieux et les esprits, qui façonnent le récit. Le lien entre le monde naturel et le monde spirituel est souvent souligné, reflétant le profond respect de la culture japonaise pour la nature. En outre, ces contes populaires soulignent souvent l'importance de l'honneur, de la loyauté et de la persévérance, servant de guide aux individus sur la façon de surmonter les défis de la vie avec grâce et intégrité. La popularité durable de ces contes est une indication claire de leur sagesse intemporelle et de leur capacité à trouver un écho auprès de personnes de tous horizons, rassurant le public sur leur pertinence. L'un des contes populaires les plus célèbres du Japon est « Momotaro, le garçon pêcheur », qui enseigne l'importance du courage, de l'amitié et de la loyauté. Ces histoires ont été racontées et adaptées sous diverses formes de médias, comme la littérature, le théâtre et le cinéma, mettant en valeur leur attrait durable et leur pertinence dans la société moderne. Les contes utilisés dans cette série de compositions de David Ezra Okonsar continuent de captiver le public du monde entier. La musique, composée d'instruments électroniques avec l'ajout d'une flûte piccolo, d'un alto, d'un violoncelle et de tambours taiko, offre une expérience d'écoute unique. Ce mélange inhabituel d'instruments permet non seulement aux compositions de se démarquer, mais crée également un monde distinctif que les auditeurs sont impatients d'explorer. La musique est atonale mais mélodique, capturant de nombreuses émotions et humeurs. -------------------------------------------------- TR Japonya'dan gelen halk masalları, kalıcı çekiciliğiyle nesilden nesile aktarılmış ve bugün bile izleyicileri büyülemeye devam etmektedir. Ahlaki dersleri ve fantastik öğeleri gibi temel özellikleri onları büyüleyici bir çalışma konusu haline getirir. Şinto inançlarına derinlemesine kök salmış bu masallar, Japon kültürünü ve toplumunu büyük ölçüde etkilemiş ve çekiciliklerine çekicilik katmıştır. Hikayeler, anlatıyı şekillendiren yokai, tanrılar ve ruhlar gibi birçok doğaüstü varlığı bünyesinde barındırır. Doğal dünya ile manevi alem arasındaki bağlantı sıklıkla vurgulanır ve Japon kültürünün doğaya olan derin saygısını yansıtır. Dahası, bu halk masalları genellikle onur, sadakat ve azmin önemini vurgular ve bireylere hayatın zorluklarıyla zarafet ve dürüstlükle nasıl başa çıkacakları konusunda bir rehber görevi görür. Bu masalların kalıcı popülaritesi, ebedi bilgeliklerinin ve her kesimden insanla yankı bulma yeteneklerinin açık bir göstergesidir. Japonya'nın en ünlü halk masallarından biri, cesaretin, dostluğun ve sadakatin önemini öğreten "Şeftali Çocuk Momotaro"dur. Bu hikayeler edebiyat, tiyatro ve film gibi çeşitli medya biçimlerinde yeniden anlatılmış ve uyarlanmış, modern toplumda kalıcı çekiciliğini ve önemini sergilemiştir. David Ezra Okonsar'ın bu beste serisinde kullanılan masallar dünya çapındaki izleyicileri büyülemeye devam ediyor. Pikolo flüt, viyola, çello ve taiko davullarının eklenmesiyle elektronik enstrümanlardan oluşan müzik, benzersiz bir dinleme deneyimi sunuyor. Bu alışılmadık enstrüman karışımı, besteleri öne çıkarmakla kalmıyor, aynı zamanda dinleyicilerin keşfetmeye hevesli olduğu farklı bir dünya yaratıyor. Müzik atonal ama melodik, birçok duyguyu ve ruh halini yakalıyor. |
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