The International Shakuhachi Society

- Recording: Tomiyama Kiyotaka's World -

Tomiyama Kiyotaka's World

Tomiyama Kiyotaka's World

Tomiyama Kiyotaka

Denon - COCJ-300001

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Shakuhachi	Shamisen	Koto
1 (Listen)	Kurokami	黒髪	07'37		Tomiyama Kiyotaka
	Black Hair This composition is attributed to Koide Itizyuro (died 1800). The song text depicts the sadness of a woman who has to sleep alone. A koto part is added to the original jiuta version.
2 (Listen)	Nanatsugo	七つ子	05'25
	An example of shamisen kumiuta, the oldest repertoire for this instrument. This piece was composed by YANAGAWA kengyô (died 1680) and modified by NOGAWA kengyô (died 1717). The text consists of quotations from a kyôgen song and deals with a child expressing her wish to have a husband.
3 (Listen)	Yuki	雪	13'37		Tomiyama Kiyotaka
	Snow Yuki is one of the most popular jiuta pieces. It was composed by Minezaki Koto, who was active in Osaka at the end of the 18th century. The song text depicts the tranquil mind of a nun and her sad psyche before becoming a nun. The interlude is widely considered to represent the sound of a temple bell on a snowy night. However, its melody is frequently utilized to refer to snow in the theatrical contexts of kabuki and bunraku.
4 (Listen)	Kitsunebi	狐火	15'56		Tomiyama Kiyotaka
	Fox Fire The second part (perhaps composed first) is based upon a popular musico-poetic form, nage-busi, and deals with fox fire as a metaphor for love. The first part sounds more like an authentic jiuta piece. Its text depicts the sadness of separation.
5 (Listen)	Kosu no To	小簾の戸	09'32		Tomiyama Kiyotaka
	Outside the bamboo blind A concise, beautiful composition by Minezaki Koto. The title Kosunoto is a misreading of Osunoto which has the same meaning. It is a short amatory story set in summer: a woman has fallen in love with a man who eased her stomach pains with his strong arms. They are about to hang a mosquito net together.
6 (Listen)	Konkyôji	勤行寺	07'52		Tomiyama Kiyotaka
	The Konkyozi temple This piece has been chosen to demonstrate the existence of humorous pieces within the largely lyrical or sentimental repertoire of jiuta. It belongs to the subgenera sakumono, which is made up of pieces composed by the professional musicians of the genre probably for their own amusement, and in the performance of which improvisation is likely to have had a major role. The composer of this piece is not known; it seems likely that the piece assumed its present form in a gradual process of development from the 18th century. The story is a humorous description of the fervent prayers of a priest, Monkyo, of a temple named Konkyozi.
7 (Listen)	Yukari no Tsuki	由縁の月	10'52		Tomiyama Kiyotaka
	The moon of Karma A composition by Turuyama Koto (active in the mid-18th century). It is characterized by its beautiful melodic contours and flexibility of rhythm and tempo. The text narrates a courtesan's sad mental state. While watching the moon, she is lamenting that she has to separate from her lover and to marry another man because of her poverty.