Profile
The Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation was established in 1993 to promote art, train successors, share techniques, and contribute to the development of musical sensitivities. It has held concerts annually at Fudo-in Temple and Shukkeien, and has performed in 8 foreign countries including Carnegie Hall in New York. Since 1995, every 10 years successively on the 50th, 6th and 70th anniversaries of the UN, the Hiroshima Peace Concert has been held at the UN headquarters in New York. In addition, the federation is communicating the A-bombed Hiroshima City’s wishes for peace through Japan’s music.
Concert at Shukkeien Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation “Midare” (“Turbulence”)
Period:1650 ~
Composer: Yatsuhashi Kengyou
Performers: Youthful successors of classical music (12~20 y/o) of the Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation
The piece was composed by Yatsuhashi Kengyo around 400 years ago, about the same time Shukkeien was created. The music expresses yearning for transition from turbulence to peaceful times, and is performed by youthful successors of classical Japanese music.
(Video length:5min. 42sec )
Concert at Shukkeien Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation “Oimatsu” (“Old Pine”)
The piece was composed by Kikuoka Kengyo of Kyoto 200 years ago, inspired by a story in the ancient Chinese history chronicle Shiji about the First Emperor of Qin granting dukeship to a pine tree, thus ranking it highest of all trees.
(Video length:8min. 42sec)
Concert at Shukkeien
Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation
“Hanamomiji” (“Flowers and Autumn Leaves”)
The beautiful scenes of cherry blossoms in spring and the colored foliage in autumn are alternately expressed by a classical instrument trio of koto, sangen and shakuhachi.
(Video length:7min. 35sec)
Akikaze No Kyoku
Song title: “Akikaze No Kyoku” (“Music of Autumn Winds”)
Period: 1800~
Composer: Mitsuzaki Kengyou
Performer: Fukumori Tomoko
This piece was composed about 1400 years ago by Mitsuzaki Kengyo based on Bai Juyi’s epic poem Chang Hen Ge (Song of Everlasting Regret), about the tragic death of Emperor Xuanzong’s concubine Yang Guifei.
(Video length:7min. 35sec)
Zangetsu
Song title: “Zangetsu” (“Moon at Dawn”)
Period: 1700s
Composer: Minezaki Koutou
Performer: Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation
“Jiuta” is a style of music born among affluent traders of Kyoto and Osaka in the Edo period. This piece is known as a masterpiece in that style, composed by Minezaki Koto in the 1780s as an elegy for the deceased daughter of affluent merchant Matsuya. The trio of sangen, koto and shakuhachi express lament under faint moonlight.
(Video length:4min. 47sec)
Aki No Uta
Song title: “Aki No Uta” (“Songs of Autumn”)
Performer: Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation
The familiar songs “Akatombo”, “Ryoshu” and “Momiji” are performed in a medley.
6min. 41sec.
Kagaribi
Song title: “Kagaribi” (“Bonfire”)
Period: 1970
Composer: Nomura Seihou
Performer: Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation
This piece was composed by Nomura Seiho in 1970 to commemorate the hosting of Expo ’70 in Osaka. The dynamic music glorifies the human discovery of fire and the subsequent progress of civilization.
(Video length:6min. 41sec)
Kyochikuto
Song title: “Kyochikuto” (“Oleander”)
Period: 1970
Composer: Morioka Akira
Performer: Hiroshima Traditional Japanese Music Federation
This piece was composed by Morioka Akira for the “Prayers for Peace” Concert on the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The lyrics describe the oleander flowers, which serve as a symbol for Hiroshima, blooming defiantly after the bombing. The song is performed here as a renewed prayer for peace.
(Video length:5min. 47sec)
（Translation of select lyrics）
In this city of water, Ota River breaks into six streams toward the Aki sea
Our castle town on the delta is a town of heavily crossed bridges
Shukkeien is a collection of superb scenes said to resemble West Lake
The A-bomb Dome glows white in the moonlight, a torch of peace never to expire
In Hiroshima, blessed with oleanders and scents of green
Good fortune shall prevail forever and ever
Aki No Shirabe
Song title: “Aki No Shirabe” (“Melody of Autumn”)
Period: 1918
Composer: Miyagi Michio
Performers: Koto; Fukumori Tomoko
Vocals; Kimoto Izumi
This piece is about the melancholy of autumn and adoration for a maiden in serenade style. The prelude expresses fallen leaves, and the interlude expresses the singing of insects.
(Video length:5min. 47sec)
