陀羅尼のまにまに
作曲年／2016
編成／6人の奏者 (fl, bcl, tb, pf, vn, cb)
演奏時間／約7分
ensemble mise-enの委嘱により、MISE-EN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016（ニューヨーク／アメリカ）のために作曲。
English title: Dharani no Manimani (Drifting with Dharani)
Year of composition: 2016
Instrumentation: alto saxophone, percussions, and prepared piano
Duration: approximately 7 minutes
Commissioned by ensemble mise-en; first performed at MISE-EN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016
score image ©︎ Edition Gravis Verlag GmbH
作曲ノート
《陀羅尼のまにまに》は、法華経陀羅尼品第二十六の「あに、まに、まね、ままね…」という呪文の言葉をベースとした作品。本作を先駆けとして、のちに《だんだらの陀羅尼》、《まだらの陀羅尼》、デュオのための連作《風の陀羅尼》、《絃の陀羅尼》、《金糸の陀羅尼》等の派生作品が生まれることになる。
陀羅尼品の呪文の言葉は、神々の名、もしくは、その異称の呼びかけの羅列によるもので、非常に強い力を持つそうだ。口に出したときの音声やリズムそのものが、とても面白い。この面白さの所以はなんだろうか、音の並びから何か規則性を見出せないかなど、様々な角度からこの呪文の言葉を咀嚼し、音楽に結びつけようと試みた。陀羅尼というと、瞑想的なものを想像されるのが一般的かもしれないが、そういったイメージではなく、日蓮宗の祈祷師が木剣や木証を鳴らして陀羅尼品を唱えるときのすさまじい勢いや、唱える身体と唱えられる言葉とが完全に一致した状態から放たれる、スパークするようなエネルギーを音楽にしようとしている。
Composer's note
I have been researching and studying traditional Japanese arts and music for several years to go as far back as possible to my origins to confirm my own sense of being. Also, I have been doing some collaborative experimental works with numerous artists of Japanese traditional art forms, including Noh performers (classical Japanese musical drama), priests chanting Shomyo (Japanese Buddhist chant), a Rakugo performer (Japanese traditional verbal entertainment), some musicians of Japanese traditional instruments, and so on. I found that most Japanese art forms have occurred with the original poetic sense of ancient Japanese words from those experiences. That has me pursuing to figure out my own form of music in investigating a new engagement between the Japanese language and music, between the past and the present, and between Japan and the world.
This composition, Dharani no Manimani, is based on Dharani-hon included in Myoho Renge Kyo (the Japanese title of the Lotus Sutra). Dharani-hon consists of dialogue and Dharani, a style of Buddhism incantation. Darani conceals a strong power in enumerating the names of deities and their variants and has an interesting sound and rhythm when uttered aloud. I tried to digest the terms of Dharani from various angles and connect them to music, wondering what the reason for this interest was and whether any regularity could be found in the sequence of sounds. When one thinks of Dharani, one might imagine something meditative. Still, I am not trying to create such an image, but rather the tremendous energy of Nichiren Buddhism masters chanting Dharani with Buddhist percussions Bokken or Mokusho and the sparking power released from a state of perfect unity between the chanting body and the words being chanted.
Score
Recording
Performance history
(As of 22 August 2022)
22 June 2016 - world premiere
MISE-EN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016
Festival Day 1 - Opening Night
the cell, 338 W 23rd St, New York, NY, US
ensemble mise-en
Moon Young Ha, conductor｜Kelley Barnett, flute
Vasko Dukovski, bass clarinet｜Mark Brochinsky, trombone
Yumi Suehiro, piano｜Maya Bennardo, violin｜Evan Runyon, contrabass
festival.mise-en.org/2016/schedule/#thecell
festival.mise-en.org/2016/
festival.mise-en.org/2016/yu-kuwabara/
mise-en.org/news/#2439
24 July 2022 - European premiere
Melodien und Literatur aus Japani - Bregenzer Fest Spiele
Seestudio, Platz d. Wr. Symphoniker 1, 6900 Austria
Ensemble Modern
bregenzerfestspiele.com/de/musik-poesie-21
www.ensemble-modern.com/de/kalender/2022-07-24/4963#k-4963