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- Kurokami -

黒髪

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This is a Jiuta piece in the Hauta style from the Ikuta Ryû school . This piece was composed for shakuhachi in 18th Century. This piece was composed for koto by Unknown . This piece was composed for shamisen by Koide Ichijûrô .

History (from Tsuge Gen'ichi)
Kurokami ('Jet-black Hair') is thought originally to have been a jiuta piece an anonymous composer. It is, however, better known today as a nagauta piece. The nagauta version, arranged by Kineya Sakichi (dates unknown), was used as a meriyasu piece in the kabuki play, Oakinai hirugakojima, premiered at Edo's Nakamura-Za theater in 1784. It is this version, which was brought from Edo and popularized in Osaka towards the end of the eighteenth century.

Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
It is the pillow
We shared that night,
When I let down
My jet-black hair.
That is the cause of my lament
When I sleep alone
With my single robe
To cover me.
'You are mine,' he said,

Not knowing the heart
Of a simple girl.
The voice of a temple bell,
Sounds into the quiet night.

Awakening from an empty dream
In the morning,
How lovely, sweet,
And helpless is my longing.
Before I know it
The silver snow has piled up.

Kurokami appears on the following albums:



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