~ Seoul 2023 ~
Programme Notes
"This is the time to be slow,
Lie low to the wall
Until the bitter weather passes."
(excerpt from Benedictus by John O'Donoghue)
PART ONE
The Black Heath
(Gideon Juckes)
Blackheath, a beautiful large open green space in the South East of London. They say that in June 1348, it was used as a mass burial pit for the victims of the Black Death pandemic. Local government dismiss this as untrue, however it is undisputed that the dead from the 1497 Battle of Blackheath are buried there. Sometimes, early in the morning, hundreds of black crows can be seen, sitting motionless on the heath.
John of the Greeney Cheshire Way
(Traditional English, arr. Gideon Juckes)
A triple time hornpipe from the North West of England, first collected in the 18th century. Who was John of the Green?
Les Voix Humaines
(Marin Marais, arr. Gideon Juckes)
Written by the French master of viola da gamba Marin Marais (1656-1728) and first published in 1701, it was perhaps the composer’s intention to mimic the human voice, in both sound and emotional intensity.
Tatlagiin Kholboo
(J.Mend-Amar, arr. Rie Takeuchi)
The Mongolian composer J.Mend-Amar collected the traditional music of Western Mongolia (Tatlaga) and composed this piece in 1992.
This beautiful song is traditionally performed on the morin khuur, a Mongolian folk instrument.
Red Sky at Night / Coda
(Gideon Juckes / Aaron Copland arr. Gideon Juckes)
Red sky at night,
sailor’s delight.
Red sky at morning,
sailor’s warning.
(Old British proverb)
The coda from the ballet Appalachian Spring was composed by the American composer Aaron Copland in 1945.
"The Bride takes her place among her neighbors. The couple are left quiet and strong in their new house."
Praise to the Lord
(Joachim Neander, arr. Gideon Juckes)
Written by the German theologian, school principal, and hymn writer Joachim Neander (1650-1680). He wrote over 60 hymns before succumbing to tuberculosis at the age of 30.
~ INTERVAL ~
PART TWO
Furo Agari Uta
(Traditional Japanese, arr. Rie Takeuchi)
Based on one of the 400 year-old sake brewing songs, sung to measure the working hours in sake brewing, passed down by the Tamba Toji clan, which originated in Hyogo Prefecture.
It was sung when all the workers had finished their hard work, taken a hot bath, then stirred the sake ingredients vats while drinking in the evening.
Darha Nopigom: 1. Reverently
(Hwang Byungki, arr. Gideon Juckes)
Composed by the master gayageum player Hwang Byungki (1936-2018). Gideon first heard and fell in love with the calm, open and abstract atmosphere of this music over 10 years ago, and is delighted to create a new arrangement of it, especially for this tour.
Chaconne in D Minor
(Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe, arr. Gideon Juckes)
Very little is known of the life of Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe (circa 1640-1700). The celebrated French master of the viola da gamba perhaps led a reclusive life, but he left behind a fascinating body of work, and his influence remains great to this day.
The Full Moon
(Rie Takeuchi)
The clear air of the New Year and the pleasant holiday crowds. Thoughtfully watching the full moon in a country beyond the sea. I am joyful that those times have come again.
Royal Dance
(Traditional Korean, arr. Rie Takeuchi)
Learnt from a recording by the master gugak player Lee Saeng-kang, this brand new arrangement features drones, deep harmonies, experimental effects and introduces the characteristic atmosphere of MUSIC for ISOLATION to Korean traditional music.
Jouluna
(Joonas Kokkonen, arr. Gideon Juckes)
A carol by the Finnish composer Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996)
“Rejoice, friends, rejoice!”
Travel to the Island
(Variations on Traditional Hidden Japanese Christian Hymns, arr. Rie Takeuchi)
In 17th century Japan, after the prohibition decree proclaimed by the Tokugawa Shogunate, Christians continued to practise their religion in secret.
One of the prayer songs which has been passed down to the present day is “Gururiyoza”. This is based on the Spanish chant “O Gloriosa Domina”, and is still sung to this day in the city of Nagasaki.
Naturally, the two songs have a close relationship, and are brought together here, creating a new song about the long journey from Spain to Japan.