In Praise of Sake (酒を讃むる歌 opus 88 nr 5B)

Soprano voice, solo percussion (glockenspiel, 2 small bongos, a small suspended triangle and a small suspended cymbal) koto quintet (three 13-string kotos and two 15-string bass kotos) Niibori ensemble (one soprano, two altos, three primes, four basses, three contrabass and two guitarrones)

Programme notes

In Praise of Sake is the 7th song of Music from the Heart, a cycle of eight happy songs premiered in 2012. Each song is set in a different language and explores different facet of human love. This song celebrates the love of fine liquor. After leading an expeditionary force in n Kyūshū, Ōtomo no Tabito (665 – 731) was appointed Governor-General of Dazaifu in 728. Most of his poems come from his last years when he was Councilor of State in the capital. Tabito also wrote in Chinese and was deeply influenced by Taoist thought. The poem In Praise of Sake 酒を讃むる歌 consists of 13 tankas. ‘Tanka’, meaning literally short poem, is a genre in classical Japanese poetry. The musical structure follows the 5-7-5-7-7 structure of a tanka. By the combined magic of sake, moonlight and sakura blossom, the poet’s beloved late wife appears in the form of a heavenly nymph.

Completion of the composition

4-III-2020