Sue no Chigiri
末の契
| [Genre] | Jiuta |
| [Style] | Tegotomono |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Composed] | Yaezaki Kengyō - Koto |
| Matsuura Kengyō - Shamisen - cir. 1790 |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| This piece was composed around 1790 by Matsuura Kengyo of Kyoto as a jiuta piece. Later, Yaezaki Kengyo (1766?-1848) arranged it as we know it today for koto and shamisen ensemble. This jiuta-sokyoku demonstrates an early tegoto-mono form of the Kyoto style. 'Sue no chigiri' means 'Pledge of Eternal Fidelity,' and the text is a courtesan's avowal of true love. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| A soul afloat Am I. How could I not have known? I wander aimlessly Like a small fisher's boat, Rudderless in those shallow waters Of ancient poems Where lovers were wont to meet, Rising, then falling on the waves. Oh, forlorn crane, Pacing the desolate shore, Let us cry together. But I must be braced Like a resilient bow, Filled with anticipation of spring. Please do not forget me, Even though I live in obscurity For eight thousand years As your mistress. Do not break our sincere pledge Of eternal fidelity. | Shiranami no kakaru ukimi to shirade ya wa waka ni mirume wo koisuchoo nagisa ni mayoo ama-obune (ai) uitsu shizumitsu yorube sae (ai) araiso tsutoo ashitazu no nakite zo tomo ni (tegoto) tatsukayumi haru wo kokoro no nana to mite wasure tamoona kaku shitsutsu yachiyo furu tomo kimi mashite kokoro no sue no chigiri tagoona |
Sue no Chigiri appears on the following albums
