Shiki no Kyoku
四季の曲
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Kumiuta |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Composed] | Yatsuhashi Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| Shiki no kyoku ('The Four Seasons') is one of the best-known and most frequently performed of the 'Thirteen Yatsuhashi Song Cycles.' While examination reveals a direct relationship with a song cycle of the same title in the earlier tsukushi-goto tradition, Yatsuhashi's version bears a distinctive new color, and even during his lifetime acquired great prestige. This song cycle is classified into the oku ('deep interior') category of kumiuta (1). Shiki no kyoku consists of an introduction and four songs praising each of the four seasons. The introductory song is apparently based on 'The First Warbler' (Hatsume) chapter from 'The Tale of Genji.' (1) Kumiuta are traditionally classified into four categories according to the degree of profundity and stylistic proficiency required and sometimes the technical difficulties involved. These are omote (lit. "outside"), ura (lit. "inside"), naka (lit. "interior"), oku (lit, "deep interior"). By way of illustration, it may be helpful to imagine these categories as representing the structure of the imperial palace or a Shinto shrine with outer and inner walls, and further inside, the outer and inner sanctuaries. It should also be mentioned that these categories represent stages of a student’s progress in the learning of the koto repertoire, and are regulated by the issuing of diplomas along the way. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| The dawning of spring, Flowers in bloom; Fragrance in sunlight, A cloudless sky. The hearts of men Find peace Without willing Everywhere. In spring, warblers Amid the plum blossoms. Azaleas and wisteria And yellow roses. Cherry blossoms Adorn the courtiers- In all hearts, Flowers. In summer, Sunflowers and oranges, Iris and lotus, And wild pinks. The breezes Are refreshing- In all hearts, Cool waters. In fall, colored leaves, The cry of the deer, And pine crickets Amid the field flowers. At sunset, The honking of geese- In all hearts, The moon. In winter, cold drizzles And the first frost, Hail and sleet, And wintry gales. Daybreak After a crystal cold night- In all hearts, Snow. | Hana no haru tatsu ashita niwa hikage kumorade nioyaka ni hito no kokoro mo onozukara nobiraka naru zo yomoyama Haru wa ume ni uguisu tsutsuji ya fuji ni yamabuki sakura kazasu miyabito wa hana ni kokoro utsuseri Natsu wa unohana tachibana ayame hachisu nadeshiko kaze fukeba suzushikute mizu ni kokoro utsuseri Aki wa momiji shika no ue chigasu no hana ni matsumushi kari nakite yuugure no tsuki ni kokoro utsuseri Fuyu wa shigure hatsushimo arare mizore kogarashi saeshi yo no akebono yuki ni kokoro utsuseri |
Shiki no Kyoku appears on the following albums