Description

Haikea haiku, hai kuu (Nostalgic haiku, oh moon 2007-08) is inspired to the Japanese festival of Tanabata (or star festival), which occurs every year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. Its origin depends on an astronomic phenomenon, the conjunction of the stars Vega and Altair. The myth exists in both China and Japan: Vega, the weaver, and Altair, the cowherd, fall in love but are bound to live separated the rest of the year; between them lies the Milky Way, in the Eastern tradition represented as a river. In a version of the story once a year a flock of pies form a bridge over the river, in order to let the lovers meet.

The text of a traditional song of Tanabata appears in the piece in its phonetical content.

The Finnish ensemble Zagros commissioned the work, which is dedicated to Päivi Kiljala and Christian Lindblad.

© Paola Livorsi

Instrumentation

fl, cl, vln, koto [koto]

Category

Chamber Works

Premiere

Zagros, Helsinki (Finland), February 16, 2008.

Commisioned by / dedications

Commissioned by Zagros; Dedicated to Päivi and Christian Lindblad.

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Archive number

MF20309

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