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Shiki (Four seasons)
by Matthew Whittall
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<p>Shiki (note for entire piece)</p><p>'Shiki' began as a request for a short winter-themed piece for the Hämäläis-Osakunnan Laulajat. Since I regard the finding of texts for musical setting as a matter of serendipity rather than research, I didn’t think very much about the idea at first. A few weeks later while browsing in a bookstore, I stumbled across an English translation of a very unconventional haiku about snow by Santōka Taneda, a poet then unknown to me. I later tracked down the poem in the original Japanese, and it opened up an entirely new soundworld, one I knew immediately how to approach. </p><p>The resultant work is a four seasons-type cycle, which felt appropriate given the genesis of the poetry. A lifelong alcoholic and depressive, Santōka joined the Sōto school of Zen Buddhism in 1924 after a suicide attempt, and chose as his spiritual practice the life of a wandering mendicant monk, crossing the length and breadth of Japan many times over, begging to survive, sleeping in small inns when he could afford to, and outdoors when he could not. As such, he lived in and with the landscape of his native country for almost fifteen years, and his poetry is thus marked by a deeply reverent but unsentimental view of the natural world, far removed from the Romantic tendency to rhapsodize nature from a safe distance. I was inspired by how the enormity and remoteness of creation seemed to fill Santōka with a sense of purpose rather than insignificance, by his ability in the midst of a life-altering spiritual journey to find ephemeral moments of wonder – some extremely vulgar! – and treasure their beauty instead of mourning their transience. I was also moved by Santōka’s determination in the face of many hardships – the suicides of his mother and brother, failure at business, divorce, estrangement from his family, illness and addiction – to seek some measure of redemption for his failings and leave a gentler mark on the world through his poetry.</p><p>The music of 'Shiki' is a progression through various states of near-stasis. The main impression I wished to convey was one of absolute stillness at the heart of each scene, of communion with the outer world, as if the viewer were drawing the landscape into him, and at the same time dissolving himself into it. The voices are treated texturally, as well as textually, moving in slow masses, with the soft but precisely colored vowels of Japanese creating the basic sounds, and the sharper consonants giving them shape and definition. The end result is closer to electronic than acoustic music, so it seemed natural to include electronic interludes between the main movements, ambient pauses which also serve a practical purpose in accompanying the performers’ movements around the stage. These visual reconfigurations of the choir body are a product of a lifelong fascination with religious ritual and procession, but also help, I feel, to make clearer the interactions of the different layers of sound, vocal subgroups and soloists in performance. It may be worth noting that, while the words and thoughts are Eastern, the landscape the music evokes is one that is, I hope, recognizeably Nordic. </p><p>I am greatly indebted to the Hämäläis-Osakunnan Laulajat and their director, Esko Kallio, for their support of, and enthusiasm for my music over the last few years. Without their trust, hard work and willingness to follow me on my wildest experiments in amateur choral writing, a large-scale work of this nature would not have been possible.</p><p>Shiki (Notes for individual movements)</p><p>Sakura (Cherry blossoms)</p><p>More than any of the other poems I chose for this cycle, Sakura perfectly captures one of my favorite themes in Santōka’s work: the valuing of tiny, transient moments of beauty amid the wider continuum of daily life. I have long felt that the ability to stop and be moved by such things, the capacity for wonder, is extremely important to retaining one’s humanity. By the same token, the treasuring of evanescence seems to make it that much harder to fall into the trap of cynicism. The music of Sakura is an attempt to reflect those values. Though a single, unmoving harmony hovers in the air throughout the piece, small inner gestures constantly surface and dissipate back into the texture. A four-note melody gradually forms and, having achieved this modest level of development, the music is quite literally blown off the stage, like the fragile petals in the poem.</p><p>Amanogawa (River of Heaven)</p><p>It would have been disingenuous, I felt, to portray Santōka as an ascetic, clean-living saint, even in such a small selection of his poems. Amanogawa presents a wryly humorous image of the poet in one of his less monkly states. Although a direct translation suggests a drunkard dancing under a late summer night sky, the Japanese words were quite a bit subtler. Rather than the literal word for “drunk” – yopparai –Santōka chose "yo", a divinely inspired, Bacchus-like figure, drunken spiritually as well as physically. A Japanese expression roughly meaning “to drink until one sees stars” also suggested that the poet was in no condition to be dancing. The sound image I used is an unmoving bass pedal supported by Tibetan-style throat singing, while a starlit sky wheels and spins above it. The music attains a state of motion eventually, rising to a pounding climax and quickly collapsing, as tends to happen in such circumstances. I am especially grateful to Nobu Takezawa for her insight into Santōka’s words, which proved far more inspiring than the standard interpretations. </p><p>Sora/Mizu (Sky/Water)</p><p>This poem brought out the most static music in the cycle, with its image of a clear sky reflected in the surface of still water. I wanted to do my best to convey the absolute timelessness of the words, and as a result, there is no musical development of any kind. The voices generate a continuum of pitchless, liquid sound, over which float melodic fragments, harmonic clouds and stylized bird calls. The piece reaches an iconic, somewhat ambiguous conclusion, which may or may not be an unconscious quotation of Sibelius’ tone poem The Swan of Tuonela.</p><p>Yuki (Snow)</p><p>I had intended to set Yuki for the full choir, but I found that the words, which so perfectly captured an atmosphere of unbroken cold and stillness, suggested no low-register music at all. In the end, the women’s voices created a sonic tapestry of interwoven lines, dissonant harmonies frozen in place, which slowly settles into a motionless backdrop of white noise, while the men amplify and refract the windlike consonant sounds of poem. Toward the end, a high whistling is transfigured into a meditative chant colored by vocal overtones, as the music subsides and, like the snow, becomes the surrounding silence.</p><p>© Matthew Whittall</p>
Year of composing
Arranger
Duration
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Movements
1. Sakura (Cherry blossoms), 2. Amanogawa ( River of heaven), 3. Sora/Mizu (Sky/Water), 4. Yuki (Snow)
Availability
Edlund G.W.
[withdrawn; song 2-3 lost]
Musica experta
Antti Sarpila Oy
Chorus
Lasten Keskus
Atena
Robert Lienau Musikverlag
Sikorski
Schirmer
Savonlinna Opera Festival
Musiikki Andante
Akademiska musikförlaget
Suvini Zerboni
Ascolta Music Publishing
Päivä
Musiikki-Pukkila
Publisher: in 1962 as MC facsimile in a journal “Ruoveden Joulu 1962”
Edition Eero Nallinmaa
Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura
Kustannus-Toimisto Tieto
Raittiuskansan kirjapaino
F-Musiikki
Finlands svenska sång-och musikförbund
Kansallinen kirjakauppa
Bluebird Music Oy AB
julk. Karjal. kultt. edistämissäätiö
Carlander Torsten
Ortodoksisen kirjallisuuden julkaisuneuvosto
Leduc
E. Pietiläinen
YLE
Publisher: (songs 1-2) 1904, Lindgren
Music Ilari
Chappell Music ltd
Antero Hytinkoski
Acta Musica
Publisher: Kirkon jumalanpalvelus- ja musiikkitoiminnan keskus
Elkan & Schildknecht
Filarmonica
Otto Murentini Ky
Publisher: Viitanen Music Edition Oy
Robert King Music Sales
julk. Förlaget Bro
7ikko-kustannus Ay
Opus Musicus
Ambitone Oy
Liewendal
Barents
Annie Bank
Hohner Verlag
Simrock
EK-Production Oy
Prima vista
Boosey & Hawkes
Publisher: Lahti Male Choir
Fazer, Valitut palat
[not available]
Sicron Musikverlag
Warner/Chappell
Edda Music
Dallapé Kustannus Oy
Published in Laulukerho IV, Otava 1951
Edda Music
Sibelius-Akatemian kansanmusiikin osasto
Toivo Kuula -seura & Sulasol
Palonen Kalle
Edition Gehrman
Nils-Georgs Musikförlags Ab
MAHTAAKO OLLA OLEMASSA?
Viipurin lauluveikot
Polytech Choir
Finlands svenska Kyrkosångsför
Hug
Lundholm
F-Kustannus
Published in compilation Uudet Siionin Laulut ja Virret (1975)
Edition 7
Brages förlag / Sulasol
Chester Music
Billaudot
Skandinavisk Musikförlag
Muntra Musikanter
Isdatelctvo "Musika"
julk. Bruk, Fridrich
Edition Musact
Like (julk.)
Brages förlag
Henry Lemoine
Suomen Sinfoniaorkesterit ry
Suomen kunnallisliitto
Rautatien Soittajat
Ricordi
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1977)
Naiskuoroliitto
Helsingin ortodoksinen seurakunta
Publisher: SHI
Heikki Sarmanto music shop
Evankelis-luterilainen yhdisty
Lundquist
Ostinato
Published in Chorus series 14, Fazer (1961)
Publisher: Musikverlag Josef Weinberger
Compozitor Publishing House
Suomen Kanttori-urkuriliitto
Finnish Accordion Teachers' Association
Noteline
Karjalan Laulu
Weltmusik
Herättäjä-yhdistys
Artemusa
Published in Laulukerho V (Otava 1958)
Imudico
[lost, only a sketch exists]
The Academy of Finnish Art Song
Bo Ejeby Förlag
Edition Eres
Holms Förlag
Tactus, Sulasol
Suomen kirkkomusiikkiliitto ry
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963)
Weilin & Göös
Augener
Alouettes Editions Sarl
Valistus
Aikamedia
Finnish Accordion Institute
Divertimento
Edition Elvis
Pelastakaa Lapset ry
Publisher: Pirkan musiikkituotanto Oy
Third prize in Luses Big Band Competition in 1987
Not available
SatnaMusic Publishing
Published by the composer
Helsingfors Nya Musikhandel
H.N.White
Körlings Förlag
Publisher: Viitanen Music Edition Oy (1975 version)
Hämeen läänin taidetoimikunta
Dorn Publications
Tuba-Euphonium Press
Bärenreiter
Published in Otavan Laulukerho IV
Erik Lindström Kustannus
Uusinta Publishing Company
Helin-Sons Oy
Gehrmans Musikförlag
LeBaron Music
Rockadillo
Blosari
Polarvox
Published in Laulukerho IV (Otava 1951)
Savolaisen osakunnan laulajat
Imagine Music Publishig
Publisher: Sound In
Suomen Laulu
SLEY
Nordiska musikförlaget
Schildts
[lost]
Friisilän Musiikki
Tuomas Kantelinen Music
Released by the Finnish Broadcasting Company
Edition TROY
Beuermann
Scandinavian Music Interest
Modus Musiikki
SK-Gehrmans Musikförlag
Kadonnut
Jäger Hugo
Rautatien soittajat
Wesslin Music
Publisher: Valistus 1953; [not available]
Laulukerho IV (Otava 1951)
Publisher: Musical Works (Beijing)
Fenix
Julk. Siba
Friisilän musiikki oy
Gummerus
Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963)
Suomen kuoroliitto
Publisher (no. 1): ArtEmusa
KYL - Kauppakorkeakoulun Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat
Mårtensong OY/AB
julk. Valistus
Puijon laulu ry
Otava
UNC Jazz Press
FSKO
Éditions À Coeur Joie
Editions Musicales Transatlantiques
Musiikki mosse oy
Publisher: FSSMF
Edition Pine
SÄVELTÄJÄ POISTANUT
WSOY
Edition Reimers
Publihhed in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1977)
Publisher (no. 1): Selvät Sävelet
Bells
Publisher: Edition JLe
Kansalliskuoro
Edition Svitzer
Lundholm C A
Musikverlag Josef Weinberger GmbH
Edita
Lindgren
Eskimo Music
Kirkon keskusrahasto/Sulasol
Carlander-Reuterfelt
Alex Freeman Music
Körlings förlag
Hans Busch Musikförlag
Publisher: Edition Modern
Lieman
Svenska Sång- och Musikförbund
Edition Peters
BRS Music
Karjalan kirjakustantamo
Carl Gehrmans Musikförlag
Lahden kans.väl.urkuviikko ry.
Edward B. Marks Music Corporat
Publisher: Centre for Worship and Music of the Evangelican-Lutheran Church of Finland
Edizioni Sconfinarte
Salabert
Sällskapet M.M.
Vee-Music
TomiRaisanen.com
Modern
Laulu-Miehet
Kirkkomusiikkiliitto
Suomen Mieskuoroliitto
Åbolands sång- och musikförbund
Love Records & Kaj Chydenius
Published in compilation Siionin Joulu (1965)
Uusi Suomi
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 2000)
Publisher: Scandia
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963/2000)
Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat
Pianokoulu Vivo 2, Otava
Libito
Finlands Svenska Kyrkosångsför
Peters
Syrene Music
Julk. Kalevan Laulajat
Fischer Carl INC
Publisher: Musact Oy
manus
TRN Music Publisher Inc.
Silver Burdet
Schott Music
A-Minor Production
Kanteleliitto
Ab Svenska Läromedel
LARI-Invest Oy
Publisher: Yhteiskustannus
Ruslania Edition
Suomen musiikkikirjatoyhdistys r.y.
Västnyländska kultursamfundet
Seesaw-Music corp
Kirkon keskusrahasto
Publisher (No. 34): Edition Kontrapunkt
Publisher: Chanterelle Verlag/MEL BAY
Pianokoulu Vivo 3, Otava
Förlaget Bro
Breitkopf & Härtel
Teemu Halmkrona Music
Published in compilation Pääsiäissana (1979)
Lindström Erik (ED)
Zen Master records & Publis
Engstrom & Sodring
Romain-Dorkin Company OY
Tammi
Donemus
Ampleforth
Laulukerho V (Otava 1958)
Verlag Neue Musik
Fennica Gehrman
Palonen Rauno
Publisher: Chanterelle Verlag, Germany
Tuomisaari yhtiö
STM-Music
SKUL/SKML
Julk. Matti Rag Paananen
Kirkkohallitus
[withdrawn]
Love Kustannus Oy
Kuva ja sana
Kalevan laulajat
Birdsong Music Publishing
Suomen Pasuuna- ja Tuubaseura
EMI
Kansanmusiikki-instituutti
Publisher: J.H. Music
Hirsis-Production Ky
Ongaku No Tomo Sha Copr.
Schlesinger
Suomen naiskuoroliitto ry
Edward B. Marks
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1975)
Yrjö Weilin
[original version withdrawn]
Edition Tre Fontane
Henri Delrieu
Mirandos
Harmonikansoiton opettajat ry
Pohjois-Karjalan kansanmusiikki- ja tanhuliitto ry.
Arvo Räikkönen
Sulasol, Novello
Publisher: Suomen kanttoriurkuriliitto
Norsk Musikförlag AS
SPOL
Suomi Loosi 1
[Withdrawn. Arabescata (1962) named as Symphony no. 4 in 1986]
Novello
saulizinovjev.com
Sävel
Publisher (no. 1): Helsinki University Chorus (YL)
Kansanvalistusseura
Faber Music
Holms förlag
Edition Wilhelm Hansen
Opus musicus
Publisher: in 1964 as MS facsimile in a journal “Kangasalan joulu 1964”, s.8
Bote & Bock
Zen-On Music Co
Musikvetenskapliga Seminariet
Publisher: Tritonus Magazine 1978-1980
Coda
Kompass records
Association of Finnish Music Schools
Abr. Lundquist
Svenska folkskolans?
Lahti Organ Festival
Universal Edition
Edition Tilli
Recital Music
Publisher: JKC
Reimers
Sortavalan Evankelinen Seura
Gross Music
Published in compilation Siionin laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 2000)
Publisher: AMEE, Spain
Canto
Suomen M.M.M. Suur-Loosi
Musikvetenskapliga seminariet
[probably lost; location not known]
Sulasol
Doblinger
Publisher: (?) 1933
Publisher: Church Year of the Missions 1970
lauriporra.com
julk. Uspenskin katedraalin mieskuoro
Editio Musica
Tactus
Turun tähtituotanto Oy