Keshi no Hana
けしの花
| [Genre] | Jiuta |
| [Style] | Tegotomono |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Also Known As] | The Poppy Flower |
| [Composed] | Yaezaki Kengyō - Koto |
| Kikuoka Kengyō - Shamisen - cir. 1830 |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| Keshi no hana ('The Poppy Flower') was written around 1830 by Kikuoka Kengyo of Kyoto, the most prolific composer of jiuta. Later this song was arranged as an ensemble piece for koto and shamisen by Matsuzaki Kengyo II (d. 1871). The text praises a beautiful courtesan who is likened to a lovely poppy flower. The piece begins with a short instrumental introduction and recitation of the first line, but is a typical tegoto-mono. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| How pretty Is the poppy flower Here in my hand. When plucked Its fragrance Is unworldly. But how pitiful Once the petals Have fallen. Very jealous is the poppy, A passionate flower of summer. Yet it wilts easily Under a rain of affection. There is no need To be ill at ease with me. Just be unresisting, Like a lovely Nara doll. | (maebiki) Te ni torite mireba uruwashi keshi no hana (ai) shiori shioreba tadanaranu (ai) nioi koobashi (ai) hanabira no chirinishi sugata aware tomo (tegoto) Rinki suru ki mo natsu no hana 9ai) ame niwa moroki fuzei ari tare ni kigane wo nannimo iwazu jitto shite ina nara-ningyoo |
Keshi no Hana appears on the following albums
| Album | Artist | |
| Abe Keiko Record Set - 07 |
Voice : Abe Keiko Shamisen : Abe Keiko Shakuhachi : Ikeda Seizan II Voice : Fujii Kunie Shamisen : Fujii Kunie | |
 | Fascination of the Koto 4 |
Voice : Yonekawa Toshiko Shamisen : Yonekawa Toshiko Koto : Yonekawa Megumi |
|
The original sangen version was composed by Kikuoka kengyo (1702-1847) and the koto part was added by Matuzaki kengyoo II (d. 1871). Accepting the burden of her sever life, a courtesan is symbolized by both a poppy flower and porcelain doll because of their beauty and fragility. The high-registered song phrases could be considered to represent the beauty of pitiful woman. The following musical points would interest listeners: the beginning part is song without the sense of meter, and neither the sangen nor the koto change tunings at all. | ||
| Ikuta Ryu Sokyoku Senshu Volume 03 （下） |
Koto : Miyagi Kiyoko Shamisen : Yazaki Akiko Voice : Miyagi Kazue | |
| Ikuta-Ryū Sōkyoku Senshū - volume 5 |
Voice : Matsuo Keiko Shamisen : Matsuo Keiko Koto : Matsuo Kazuko | |
| Koto - Koten/Gendai Meikyoku Shū 08 |
Koto : Nakashima Yasuko Shamisen : Miyake Utamichi Voice : Okuno Gashō | |
| Sankyoku Gassō Dai Zenshū vol. 15 (三曲合奏大全集１５) |
Voice : Nosaka Sōjū Shamisen : Nosaka Sōjū Koto : Nosaka Keiko Shakuhachi : Ishikura Kozan | |
| Sankyoku Home Practice - Shoden 2 |
Shakuhachi : Aoki Reibo II | |
| Sasagawa Shizue no Shigei Vol. 2 |
Shamisen : Sasagawa Shizue Koto : Suzuki Kazuko | |
| Sō no Shiori (Ikuta Ryū) vol 3 |
Shamisen : Inoue Michiko Voice : Satō Chikaki Koto : Satō Chikaki | |
| Sokyoku Jiuta Taikei 35 |
Voice : Yonekawa Toshiko Shamisen : Yonekawa Toshiko Voice : Yonekawa Toshiko II Koto : Yonekawa Toshiko II | |
| Yoshida Seifu Collection of Famous Performances volume 2 |
Koto : Yoshida Kyōko Shakuhachi : Yoshida Seifū | |