Tue 11 May 2010
Etsuko Chida, from Sapporo, Japan, started the study of the koto at the age of 5. She studied under three of the greatest koto players of the Yamada school, Kaga Toyomasa, Yokota Toyochika, and Sanagi Hokatoyo. Etsuko Chida has performed in concerts in Japan as well as in many countries in Europe. She lives in Paris.
History (from Tsuge Gen’ichi)
This song cycle consists of six songs. Each of the texts deals with unsuccessful love. The composer has not yet been identified, but Omoigawa (’River of Memory’) is generally listed as the composition of either Kitajima Kengyo (d. 1690), Ikuta Kengyo (1656-1715) or Makino Kengyo (A. 1716?). Because of the sad, reminiscent mood of the song texts, this piece is often sung at memorial services in Japan.
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen’ichi)
We meet in vain
In the River of Memory.
Thought like water weeds
Caught among the rocks
Struggle to flow, in vain.
Only my sleeves are drenched.
When will they dry?
I do not know.
His look still lives
In my memory.
I can’t forget him
He never shows up,
Even in my yearning dreams.
The rooster crows
At dawn, too soon, too soon.
My heart is broken.
Suddenly, but when…?
No more word from you.
Too far apart now,
To share as we once did.
We met at ‘Letter Pass.’
Does it now stand between us?
That Mojigaseki(1)!
How I hate his name!
He doesn’t care.
He leaves me.
I can’t stop him.
Now he’s gone,
Here’s my empty cloak…
Oh, my sleeves!
Drenched in the dew
Of my tears.
I loved and lost.
And now alone
In my bed
In this poor hut,
I cry though the night,
My tears
Gushing forth,
In silent waterfall.
He should have been
Heartless, just that.
But he wasn’t.
Did he betray me
Because he cared?
The more I think of it,
The more wretched I feel.
(1) Mojigaseki means ‘Letter Pass.’