Kaigara Bushi (Seashell Song)
Kaigara-bushi, a regional folk song, comes from Ketaka,
the coastal town facing the Japan sea.
The town is also known for its hot springs surrounded by nature.
Translation coming soon.
Luciano Berio: Folk Songs

“The Spinner:”
When I was a little girl
I tended the sheep.
Lirou, lirou, lirou . . .
Lirou la diri, etc.

I had a little staff
And I called a shepherd to me.
Lirou, lirou, etc.

For looking after my sheep
He asked for a kiss
Lirou, lirou, etc . . .

And I, not one to be mean,
Gave him two instead of one.
Lirou, lirou, etc.

“Song of Sadness”
Sorrowful nightingale,
How like me you are!
Sorrowful nightingale,
Console me if you can
As I weep for my lover.

Sorrowful nightingale,
When I am buried,
Sorrowful nightingale,
Sing this song,
When I am buried
György Ligetti
"Three Fantasies after Hölderlin"

1. Halfway through life:
With yellow pears
And full of wild roses
The land hovers over the lake,
You lovely swans,
And drunk with kisses [. . . ]

Alas, where shall I find – when
Winter comes – the flowers, and where
The sunshine?
And the shadows of the earth?
The walls stand
Speechless and cold, in the wind
The weather-vanes rattle.

2. If from a distance:
(Fragment)
If from a distance, now we are parted,
You still recognize me, [ . . . ]

So tell me, how does she await you?
In those gardens, where after a terrible
And dark time we found each other? [ . . . ]

How the hours passed, how tranquil
Was my soul before knowing
That I would be so broken apart? [. . . ]

Was it spring? Was it summer? The nightingale
With its sweet song dwelt with birds
Not far off, in the bushes,
And the trees surrounded us with fragrance.

[ . . . ] the ivy was greening, there greened
a delightful darkness of tall avenues. We
were often there morning and evening, talking of
many things and looking at one another with joy.

[. . . ] Oh! Woe is me!
They were lovely days. But
A gloomy dusk followed after, [ . . .]

3. Evening Reverie:
[ . . .] Spring unfolds in the evening sky;
the roses bloom without number
and the golden world seems peaceful;
carry me there, O purple clouds! And may

my love and sorrow vanish up there into light and air!
And yet, as if driven off by a foolish plea,
The spell breaks; it grows dark and lonesome, [ . . . ]
Come now, gentle slumber! The heart
Desires too much; yet in the end Youth, you burn
Away — you restless dreamer!
Then old age is peaceful and serene.
Mark Minkov
Landscape
(F.G. Lorca)

On a plain, an olive grove,
Fan-like, opens its vista,
And, fan-like, closes it again.
Above the young olive trees,
The sky hangs low, heavily,
And darkly, as a cloudburst,
The stars rain down, bright and cold.

On the bank of the canal,
Reed and twilight tremble, both,
The grey wind is there with them.
The olives are full, so full
With cries of lamenting birds.
Oh, poor sisters, captive flock!
The deep, enormous night plays
with feathers of their long tails.

The olives are full, so full, etc. . .

John Zorn
"Forbidden Fruit":

Close my eyes
Take a deep breath
My memories slash

You and I, sweat and sweat
Keeeeen . . . keeen . . slow motion
In my ears . . . endless echoes
Color . . . empty . . . colors

Sitting still, listening still
Flowing, wrapped within
Something happens

He is coming. So beautiful
So I can do it well
I’m waiting on the beach

Soon I awake
Thirst and sigh
Dazzling and grow dizzy
Pain . . . shine

I lick . . . I gnaw . . . I devour
György Ligeti
"Eternal Light":

Let eternal light shine upon them, O Lord,
With Thy saints for ever, for Thou art merciful.
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord;
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
Hwang Sung-Ho
Jue Eui Sik’s shijo: “Bak Jade from Mt. Hyung”

If I show people the Bak jade from Mt. Hyung,
For it is a stone, who can know the inner essence?
Let it be. Won’t there be someone who will know?
Leave alone as if a poor stone.
György Ligeti
"Hungarian Études"


Étude 9 (Mirror cannon)
Drip,
Drop,
One drop,
Five drops
And more,
Icicles melting,
Water knocking at the door

Étude 49
A line of shadows on the meadow,
Flocks crowding in form the boroughs,
Dense swarms buzzing up in the boughs,
Frogs’ songs rising from the ditches.
Ding-dong in the hollow towers,
Good-night, the bells call us to rest.

Étude 40
Ribitri, Ribitri, Ribitri!
Come on under, if you think you love me!
Underneath, the weather is never wild!
Underneath, the rainfall is always mild!

Étude 90 (Fair)
Apples and they’re cheap,
Look at this big heap,
He who buys it, quickly eats it,
Apples and they’re cheap!

Dog-sled, dog-sled running down,
Look how it speeds to the town!
Here I am the grinder-tzar,
Running on a dog-sled car.

Do you have any boots for sale,
Good for the snow, good for the hail?
I have booties, beautiful,
Nice seam on the fringe.
If ever I had a pair,
You’d never see me cringe.

Do you have any frocks for sale,
Good for the wind, good for the hail?
I have a frock,
Beautiful stitch work on the shoulder.
If ever I had such a frock,
You’d never see me glower.

Good mead in the barrel,
I fill up my beaker,
The vintage is frothing,
So drink up before it o’erflows.

A circus is coming to town,
An elephant will be there,
Leading is a showy clown,
A little boy tracks them down,
A little dazed, a little eager.