Rakubai
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [School] | Yamada Ryū - 山田 |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| This piece is one of the traditional songs which were arranged by Ongaku Torishabe-gakari during the Meiji Era for use in the public schools. Isawa Shuji (1851-1917), the director of the committee, was concerned particularly with the texts of traditional songs in terms of their suitability in school curriculums. Betterment of the zokkyoku was one of his committee's major efforts. Part of the result was published in1888 by the Tokyo Academy of Music as the Sokyoku shu ('Collection of Japanese Koto Music'). Rakubai ('Falling Plum Blossoms') appears for the first time in this collection. Known originally by the title of Edo-murasaki, the tune was given a new 'educational' text. Ever since, this song has been used for beginners of the koto. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| The sky in spring When the year turns new; By the fences The new green of grass. The gossamer green Of willow trees And the sweet fragrance Of the plum blossom. Then suddenly The note of a flute - As if echoing Against the clouds. And the blossoms fall. The blossoms fall At the note of the flute. | (maebiki) Toshi tachikaeru haru no sora (ai) kakine no kusa wa irozukite (ai) yanagi no ito mo uchikeburi kaori mo yukashi ume no hana (ai) ori mo ori tote fue no ne no kumo ni hibikeru kokochi shite hana mo chirunari fue no ne ni |