Enoshima no Kyoku
江の島の曲
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Uta mono |
| [School] | Yamada Ryū - 山田 |
| [Composed] | Yamada Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| An ambitious composer of twenty in 1777, Yamada Kengyo composed the present piece in an entirely new style. Enoshima is a tiny island near Kamakura in Sagami Bay where the goddess Ben(zai)ten is enshrined. The Japanese version of the Indian goddess Sarasvati, the goddess of the Muse attracted the faith of the people; especially of blind musicians. It is said that the devout Yamada confined himself in the shrine for three weeks, offering prayers to the goddess before he got the idea for his maiden work, Enoshima no kyoku ('Song of Enoshima'). The kai-zukushi (an enumeration of shellfish names, kai, or -gai) describes a Japanese girl's passions in a circumventive way. It forms the main part of the piece. The gaku part, at the end of the piece is a clever imitation of the court music (gagaku) in a koto-shamisen idiom, invented by the composer. It provides the heavenly atmosphere of Sarasvati's music. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| Spring is past And it is time For summer wear. My light kimono sleeves Flutter in the breeze, Stirred by the god of wind. Happiness, Life, contentment - All are boundless In the Sea of Buddha's Mercy. But Enoshima, When the tide is out, Can easily be reached By foot - A beautiful scene Unrivaled In art. Water draws in The mountain shadows; The mountain leaves all To the water's pleasure. The renowned Cave of Eternal Youth, Like the dwelling Of mountain spirits, Lies in the craggy fast Of the soaring cliffs. The voice of the waves Sounds the Truth Of the Eternal Bond, Cleansing the Heart. And then come the children Of fishermen gathering On the beach - Singing songs They do the shells: 'At one glance I fell, Tumbled in love with you. But you pulled away When I tugged your sleeve. Love is so one-sided, like An abalone shell. Fickle, a wave going Nowhere, is you heart - A thinly pink shell. A boy's heart, the vinegar shell Of a gallant fop. A princess shell am I The singlehearted heart Of a girl is not like yours. Someday I'll share The marriage bed with you And when I have you Then I'll fasten just like a clam. But I'll pin my hopes That you will say to me Wait, for that day! And then We shall be husband and wife! A sea of love' Sing the children. Even the evil dragon, Deep in the swamp, Instantly was bestirred By the divine virtue of The sweet goddess Of the heaven - And pledged himself Forever. The Dragon's Mouth Shrine Still stands Even to this day. Never ceasing, For countless generations will The wind of this island waft Sands, mountains and pines. Even the waves rocking Up against the cliffs sound Like the 'Peaceful Wind Strain,' And like the 'Green Sea Waves' As in nature Of things because The famed Goddess Of the Muse Plucks the strings Of her lute - Forever, The Goddess bestows Prosperity unrestrained, Long abundant life. For her bounteous mercy Are we ever grateful. For her bounteous mercy Are we ever grateful. | (maebiki) Haru sugite ima zo hajime no natsu-goromo karoki tamoto ga urakaze ni shinado no oite soyosoyo to fukuju-enman kagiri naki chikai no umi no sore narade hikata to nareba ito yasuku ayumi wo hakobu enoshima no e nimo oyobanu nagame kana Mizu wa yama no kage wo fukumi yama wa mizu no kokoro ni makasu shinsen no iwaya na ni kikoetaru hooraidoo sobadatsu iwane gaga to shite zuien-shinnyo no nami no koe kokoro mo sueru orikarani ama no kodomo no uchimurete sonare kouta mo kai-zukushi (ainote) Kimi ga sagata wo misomete somete hiku sodegai wo fuiharoo koi wa awabi no kataomoi adashi adanami sakuragai umenohanagai sono mi wa suina suina sugai wa otodo no kokoro kochi wa himegai hitosuji na onna-gogoro wa soojanaiwaina (ai) itsuka oose no tokobushi ni oote hanarenu hamaguri no sono tsukihigai mategai to iu wo tanomi no imosegai utoo hitofushi koi no umi Kano fukasawa no akuryoo mo taenaru tennyo no shintoku ni tachimachi ichinen hokkishite nagaku chikai wo tatsunokuchi Mukashi no ato wo zo todomekeru ikuchiyo mo tsukiseji tsukiji kono shima no isoyama matsu wo fuku kaze (ai) Iwane ni yosuru nami made mo sanagara kafuuraku sigaiha wo soosunari (gaku) Kotowari nare ya nanishioo myooon-bosatsu no shirabe no ito wo nagaku tsutaete fukijizai jumyoo chookyuu han'ei wo mamorasetamoo on-kami no hiroki megumi zo arigataki hiroki megumi zo arigataki |
Enoshima no Kyoku appears on the following albums
| Album | Artist | |
| Hozumi Tsurezure Volume 2 |
Shakuhachi : Mizuno Kohmei Shamisen : Yamaguchi Hozumi Koto : Kimura Chizumi | |
| Sankyoku Gassō Dai Zenshū vol. 9 (三曲合奏大全集９) |
Shakuhachi : Aoki Reibo II Voice : Yamase Shōin III Shamisen : Yamase Shōin III Voice : Yamase Shōin II Koto : Yamase Shōin II Voice : Yamasei Shunsei Koto : Yamasei Shunsei | |
 | Shakuhachi no Shinzui-Sankyoku Gasso - 04 |
Shakuhachi : Yamaguchi Gorō |
| Sokyoku Jiuta Taikei 48 |
Voice : Nakanoshima Kin'ichi Koto : Nakanoshima Kin'ichi Shakuhachi : Yamaguchi Gorō Voice : Nakanoshima Keiko Shamisen : Torii Tonami V | |
| Yamada - 05 |
Voice : Uehara Masaki II Koto : Uehara Masaki II | |
| Yamada Kengyō wo Utao Disk 3 |
Voice : Fujii Chiyoga II |