Oimatsu (nagauta)
老松
| [Genre] | Nagauta |
| [Also Known As] | The Old Pine |
| [Composed] | Shamisen - 1820 |
History (William P Malm):
| Composed by Kineya Rokuzaemon IX The title and first text are derived from an earlier Noh drama. The same title appears in other shamisen (and koto) genres, but the text and style differ as the nagauta piece was written for a concert in honor of the composer's eighty-year-old mother. In Japan, the pine tree is a symbol of age and eternal freshness. Like the text of the koto piece Shin Takasago, images about old trees and longevity from classical poetry and Noh drama texts dominate much of the piece. |
Poem :
| Truly peace is found in all directions of the country. Truly peace is found in all directions of the country. The road barrier gates are open. This is the ancient sacred pine, having lasted for 1,008 years until pebbles became rocks overgrown with moss. The color of the pine needles befits the seasons and deepens over the centuries. Waking up too soon from dream-filled sleep, the color and fragrance of flowers have blown past and entangle with the moon. Pulled by the sound of strings and winds gently, gently one feels as if one were dipping a drink from the spring of long life. The eye that surveys the shrine with awe sees to the north a steep blue mountain covered with crags and colored clouds blown by the wind, fluttering over you the green and red ornaments recalling past days. To the right one sees the remains of the old temple. Morning and evenings the toiling of the bell never ceases. Let the brush flow freely on the Akama inkstone, placing here the official mark. The character for "pine" (matsu) can be changed to the word "to wait". Celebrating long life with continual fresh music in Takasago, there grows at Sumiyoshi, an old pine that tells tales of youth shyly of everlasting fidelity. The wonderful age of two pines growing together with limitless memories of ages past. How happy is our life forever and ever. The pure, measured, sacred, and courtly dance musics sound in this house [temple]. Voices fill the air with thanks. The outer robe of the courtesan named Matsu [pine] has an ivy pattern in purple color. "It is adorable", says every man. "It's all lies." she replies as she flirts with one man and then is off to see another. Some nights they meet secretly, calling out across a wicker fence on a cloudy night. He says, "How pitiful" from his hiding place behind a tree. Meeting on a sunny day, green as the pine tree playing to their hearts' content, the crane and tortoise bring long life to our emperor and protect him in the divine order. The wind in the pines is the voice of the gods. Wealth and status, glory and success. May this eternal house always prosper. |