Amphora Concert 2023
Traditional songs connecting East and West
- from Europe to Okinawa -
Oji Hall, Ginza December 16, 2023
Part1
Georgian folksongs [mixed voices/female voices]
Georgian folksong
Traditional Georgian choral music has developed various forms of polyphony, which differ from region to region. Originally sung by men, it is now also enjoyed by women's and mixed choirs.
'Cherry's lips, black eyes. Fly to me and illuminate my dark eyes. You are the eternal source of my life.'
Ts'ints'qaro “By the fountain”
'As I passed by the fountain, I met a beautiful woman. She was carrying a jug on her shoulder. I said a few words to her, but she got angry and went away.'
'Goldsmith, make me a plough. With the rest of it, make me a hoe. With the remnants of it, make me a plough. With the rest of it, make me a knife.'
'This cradle in which the young child sleeps is made by carving. This cradle is of chestnut wood. This one is of hazel. This is of mulberry. And this one is of crystal.'
Netavi Gogov Me Da Shen “Daughter, what if you are with me?”
'Daughter, if me and you. Young man, if me and you. If we had a field together. If we also had a hoe to plough. In the land by the forest."
Shen Khar Venakhi “You are the vineyard”
'You are a vineyard freshly blossomed. You are the young, beautiful, fragrant poplar saplings of the Garden of Eden. You are the very sun shining brightly.'
Georgian folksongs [male voices]
Alilo "Christmas song of Imereti"
'God has given us Christmas, the 25th of December. Christ was born in Bethlehem."
Imereti region is in central Georgia, where the capital Tbilisi is located.
Sadghegrdzelo is the vocalisation of the toast. A song from the Western Guria region of Georgia with particularly technical polyphony, beginning in harmony in five plus five degrees and ending in unison from a stacking of two degrees.
'With both hands we have a rich harvest, our storehouse is full of wine, and above all, we are glad we have no enemies.'
The song also recalls the long history of fighting against Turkey and Russia. The festival's circular dance speeds up in time with the song.Georgia's traditional choral music has developed into a variety of polyphonic forms that differ from region to region. Originally sung by men, it is now enjoyed by women and mixed choirs as well.
Renaissance polyphonies
The Renaissance period (around 1500AD) was the height of music history and the period of greatest development of vocal polyphony in Western Europe. At the time, music education was also conducted in Japan at Jesuit seminaries, and this was the first time that Japanese people were exposed to Western music. We present three works by the most famous composer of the time, Josquin des Prez (c. 1450 -1521). Enjoy the various techniques of intertwining multiple melodies.
'Comfort me, O my soul, with your beauty. With your beauty, heal all my pains.'
A secular song (chanson) in old French, with short melodies in each of the six voices, appearing and disappearing one after the other.
Mille Regretz “A thousand sorrows”
'A thousand sorrows. I leave you, and because we part, I am lost in a thousand sorrows.'
Four-part chanson. Much loved by the Spanish emperors and performed throughout Europe under the name 'Song of the Emperors'. It is said to have been performed by the Tensho Mission to Europe to Kampaku Hideyoshi on their return to Japan in 16th century.
In Te Domine Speravi “Lord, I believe in Thee.”
'Lord, I believe in you. I believe in you, O Lord, that you will have mercy on me forever. That even in the sad and darkest hell you will break through it."
Four-part flotilla in Latin and Italian.
Part2
Bulgarian folksongs by Unica Jingle
In Bulgaria, a highly developed polyphonic style based on traditional folk songs has developed, and its unique style of singing is known throughout the world as the Bulgarian Voice. Unica Jingle, a unit within the Amphora, has received authentic lessons in Bulgaria.
Pilentse Pee “The Little Bird Sings and Talks”
'In the deep forest, a little bird sings. If only I had a beautiful lover, I wouldn't have to mourn in my hard times."
The sharp, high-pitched voice imitates birdsong, and the dense five-part harmony is a must-hear.
Todoro Le Izgoro “Todoro is a beautiful girl”
'Todoro, is there no man you love? My man is in love with you and I'm in trouble!"
A young girl's chatter, set to a delightful melodic variation.
Karai Mome “Come on, let's go, my daughter.”
Peasant song from Thrace. The shepherd's daughter wants to go and meet the shepherd.
'Work hard all your life. Quickly cut the wheat. Come, girl, let's go to work..."
Altun Maro "O beautiful Marie"
'O beautiful Marie, gather all the daughters of the village, all the pretty girls. For I want you to meet my people."
Maro is an invitational form of Marie. The song is now an invitation to a party. The song is interspersed with chatter from mothers who are curious about their sons' potential brides.
Okinawan folksongs
Okinawa is a treasure trove of folk songs, on a par with the Tohoku region. According to Kanai Kikuko (1906-1986), a composer from Miyako Island and a researcher of Ryukyuan folk songs, there were 1553 songs in a collection of songs compiled by the Shuri royal court around 1500. Using these songs directly scored and arranged by Kanai on the various islands as a reference, the challenge is to create an a cappella chorus that makes the most of the charms of old folk songs.
Folk song from Taketomi Island in the Yaeyama region. A labour song sung by men and women in a shouting match during agricultural and civil engineering work. Yunta is said to be a corruption of 'yui uta' or 'eimi-uta' and refers to a song that has been handed down locally for centuries.
The song goes: 'In Asadoya house, a girl called Kuyama was born as beautiful as that. The village official asked for a concubine, and the head of the village also asked for a concubine. Kuyama said, 'I don't want to go, so I'll go to my parents'.
Bangamuri (lullaby from Miyako Island)
'I will protect you, I will make you big. My sister will shake, I will make you taller. You were born as good as a friend flower. You were as beautiful as friend flowers. Be famous and respected all over the island. Be a respectable person all over the country.'
Folk song from Ie Island, northwest of the main island of Okinawa. 'Mashunku' refers to earthenware pots. 'Nabi' refers to an iron pot, but is also used as a woman's name. This song is a playful song in which the girls are compared to earthenware and iron pots , and the girls are judged on their quality.
'Mashunku to nabi, compare them. Mashunku is thin, Nabiki is beautiful. The lovers are all together, The fun is girls' tales.
Croatian folksongs
In the Dalmatian region of Croatia, facing the Adriatic Sea, a traditional four-part chorus called klapa is popular, and everything from old folk songs to contemporary popular songs are sung in four-part harmony. The region has historically had close ties with Italy, and some folk songs have bright Latin feels.
Lepi Juro “On St George's Eve"
'Beautiful George. On the eve of St George's Day, at its dusk, I light a fire with my right hand. With my left hand I weave a wreath. On the eve of St George's Day, at its dusk."
U Poju Se Mala "The sad bride"
'The orange trees are swaying a little. Not because of the wind. Nor is it because of the sun. It's because of the great sadness of the daughter who is being married off to a widower."
'The clear, cold waters of the Dinar Alps moisten the fields. O river Cetina. To the river the maiden sings a beautiful song. O River Cetina, please let my beloved come to me across the river. And let me kiss her."
Serenada Mandini "Mandini's Serenade"
'How many times has the sun shone through these counters. Now the time has come, the sun has come again. Sound the violin and the guitar. O Mandini, speak to me."
O, Jablane "O tall apple tree."
'O tall apple tree! You are our father. Pride of all Yelsa people. One day, when she comes to town, and when the apples are ripe, I will give her the fruit under the tree' (Jelsa is a town on the northern tip of the island of Hvar in the Adriatic Sea).