Dmitri SMIRNOV: AMONG THE STARS 
(Six Haiku by Kobayashi Issa) 
for voice, flute(= piccolo) and piano 
Op. 12 (1973/2002) 12'

Text: in original (Japanese) or in translation by Vera Markova (Russian) 1. The Ant Path  2. Cuckoo 3. The Sparrow 4. Cicada 5. The Bell 6. The Snail Duration: 12' FP: 15 July 1992, Rosen Concert Hall, Appalachian State University, Boone NC,  Katherina Ciesinski (soprano), Linda Chesis (flute), Brian Zeger (piano)

Music: 4. Cicada  (click to see, play or free download the music) A complete score is available from Meladina Press CD: Meladina Record MRCD22a E back to the List

NOTE:  The cycle setting six haiku (short three-line lyrics) by the Japanese poet Kobajashi Issa (1763-1827) was written in Moscow in 1973, but the first performance took place 19 years later: on 15 July 1992 at the Rosen Concert Hall, An Appalachian Summer (USA) programmed by Broyhill Chamber Ensemble with: Katherine Chesinski, mezzo-soprano; Linda Chesis, flute; Brian Zeger, piano. The duration is about 10 minutes. The last version was created in 2002 for alto voice.

TEXTS:

1. Муравьиная тропа	1. The Ant Path
ありの道   雲のみねより   つづきけり (1819)	ari no michi       kumo no mine yori       tsuzuki keri (5-7-5)
Муравьиная тропа ты откуда к нам идёшь? Из-за облачной гряды?	The ant path,  Where do you come from?  From the cloud bank?
2. Кукушка	2. Cuckoo
先のよの   おれがいとこか   かんこどり (1813)	saki no yo no    orega itoko ka     kankodori (5-7-5)
Верно в прежней жизни ты сестрой моей была, грустная кукушка.	Most likely, in your former life You were my sister, O sorrowful; cuckoo…
3. Воробушек-дружок	3. The Sparrow
雀のこ    そこのけそこのけ    お馬がとほる (1819)	suzume no ko    soko noke soko noke    o-uma ga tôru (5-8-7)
Воробушек-дружок, прочь с дороги, прочь с дороги – видишь, конь идёт!	My dear sparrow! Make way! Make way!  Look, a horse is coming!
4. Цикада	4. Cicada
なくな虫    わかるるこひは    ほしにさへ  (1822)	naku na mushi     wakaruru koi wa    hoshi ni sae (5-7-5)
О цикада, не плачь!  Нет любви без разлуки  даже для звёзд в небесах	O cicada, don't weep!  There is no love without parting Even among the stars.
5. Колокол	5. The Bell
みの上の     鐘としりつつ      ゆふすずみ (1823)	mi no ue no      kane to shiritsutsu    yûsuzumi
О да, я знаю, это по мне  колокол вечерний звонит,  но в тишине прохладой дышу.	O yes, I know it is for me  That the evening bell tolls.  But I still breathe the air in silence.
6. Улитка	6. The Snail
肩つぶり    そろそろのぼれ     富士の山 (Year Unknown)	katatsuburi    soro-soro nobore       fuji no yama
Тихо ползи улитка по склону Фудзи вверх до самых высот.Перевод © Веры Марковой	Slowly, slowly creep along  The slope of Fuji, O Snail,  Up to the very top of the mountain!  translated © by Dmitri Smirnov

With thanks to Isao YASUDA (Hitachi,Ltd.)
 for help with Japanese language.
 DS