Usu Yuki
薄雪
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Kumiuta |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Also Known As] | Asagao No Kyoku, Shinonome No Kyoku |
| [Composed] | Yatsuhashi Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| Usuyuki ('Light Snow'), one of the 'Thirteen Yaysuhashi Song Cycles,' is classified in omote category (1). The texts of the first four songs are based on passages from 'The Tale of Genji.' The first uses Nakanokimi's waka in the 'Beneath the Oak' (Shigamoto) chapter; the second, Po Chu-i's 'The Song of Everlasting Sorrow' cited in 'The Paulownia Court' (Kiritsubo); the third, Genji's waka in 'Lavender' (Wakamurasaki). The fourth song is based on a scene from 'Evening Faces' (Yugao). The title is derived from the opening song, which refers to the death of the Eighth Prince (brother of Genji and father of the Uji Princess). Because of this reference, the song cycle is often performed at memorial concerts. (1) Kumiuta are traditionally classified into four categories according to the degree of profundity and stylistic proficiency required and sometimes the technical difficulties involved. These are omote (lit. "outside"), ura (lit. "inside"), naka (lit. "interior"), oku (lit, "deep interior"). By way of illustration, it may be helpful to imagine these categories as representing the structure of the imperial palace or a Shinto shrine with outer and inner walls, and further inside, the outer and inner sanctuaries. It should also be mentioned that these categories represent stages of a student’s progress in the learning of the koto repertoire, and are regulated by the issuing of diplomas along the way. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| Lamentable Is my destiny. Our vow, so fragile, Has disappeared like The light snow. As a keepsake, Only tears Remain. Our vow To share a wing in the sky And to share a branch on the earth, Was mutable after all. But then, I will not feel Bitter toward him Who once was kind. Since I held it In my hand, a leaf Of the lavender, My longing has grown Even deeper. Our vow of eternal love Is tied to that affinity With another grass. At dawn, A morning glory Fresh with dew drops On the bamboo fence. A jeweled chaplet Gracefully adorns The flowery image of The Lady. The moon, Which people have watched Age after age, Must be a true momento- At this thought, At this thought, My tears fall Like jewels on a string. A raft floating Down the flower-laden Yoshino River- One can hardly find A spot to place the pole. The waves are high And the wind off the mountain Scatter the flowers' fragrance In all directions. | Urameshi ya waga en usuyuki no chigiri ka kienishi hito no ka tami tote namida bakari ya nokoruran Hiyoku-renri no katarai mo kawareba kawaru yo no narai saritote wa uramumaji ya mukashi wa nasake arishi wo Wakamurasaki wo te ni tsumi fukaki kokoro no iro masu nagaki chigiri to musubishi mo kusa no yukari to shirubeshi Shinonome no magaki ni tsuyu wo fukumu asagao tama no kazura taoyaka ni kakaru ya hana no omokage Yoyo no hito no nagameshi tsuki wa makoto no katami zo to omoeba omoeba namida tama wo tsuranaku Yoshinogawa no hana-ikada sao sasu hima mo arajina iwanami takaki yamakaze yomo ni chirasu hana no ka |
Usu Yuki appears on the following albums
| Album | Artist | |
| Jiuta no Sekai - 3 |
Koto : Tomiyama Mieko Voice : Tomiyama Seikin I Shamisen : Tomiyama Seikin I | |
| Kikuhara Hatsuko Zenshu vol. 2 |
Voice : Kikuhara Hatsuko Koto : Kikuhara Hatsuko | |
| Sōkyoku (Ikuta-Ryū) - Koten no Shirabe volume 5 |
Voice : Matsuo Keiko Koto : Matsuo Keiko | |
| Sokyoku Jiuta Taikei 03 |
Voice : Takahashi Eisei II Koto : Takahashi Eisei II |