Lyr Add: Kojo no tsuki (Moonlit castle ruins)

Subject: Lyr Add: Kojo no tsuki (Moonlit castle ruins)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 May 11 - 03:59 PM

Lyr. Add: Kojo no tsuki
Taki Rentaro, 1901

Haru koro no, hana no en.
Megury sakazuki, kage sashite;
Chiyo no matsu gae, wake ideshi.
Mukashi no hikari, ima izu ko?

Aki jinei no, shimo no iro,
Nakiyuki kari no, kazu misete;
Uru surugi ni, terisoishi,
Mukashi no hikari, ima izu ko?

It was a spring evening,
A feast of blossoms was held on the tower,
And cups of wine were passed around.
Then up from the old pine the moon rose.
But now, where is the brightness of bygone days?

It was a frosty night of autumn.
Up above the campmany a wild goose passed, calling,
And the moon shone on the unsheathed swords.
But now, where is the brightness of bygone days?

Composed for koto by Taki, Rentaro in 1901. The song was inspired by the ruins of Okijyo Castle, buiilt in 1185.

Lyrics, midi and score at http://koto.sapp.org/dict/kojo

Someone mentioned or asked for this tune in a thread I can't remember.
The website, http://koto.sapp.org, has several popular koto lyrics and midis.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Kojo no tsuki (Moonlit castle ruins)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 May 11 - 04:18 PM

Q-

I'll pass this one on to my niece who speaks fluent Japanese.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Kojo no tsuki (Moonlit castle ruins)
From: Monique
Date: 08 May 11 - 04:36 PM

It's longer than that, there are two more verses

Ima kojo no yowa no tsuki
Kawaranu hikari ta ga tame zo
Kaki ni nokoru wa tada kazura
Matsu ni uto wa tada arashi

Tenjo kage wa kawaranedo
Eiko wa utsuru yo no sugata
Utsusan toteka ima mo nao
Ah! Kojo no yowa no tsuki

We have it on Mama Lisa's World with the Japanese lyrics, recordings and sheet music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Kojo no tsuki (Moonlit castle ruins)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 May 11 - 05:49 PM

Thanks, Monique. I don't know who posted on it, but they might see this thread.

I collect Japanese stamps, among other things. On one recent set of 14, each one has a bar or two of a song popular in Japan and an illustration that is pertinent to it. I found lyrics to most, but not all. I can't remember if I checked Mama Lisa's World.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Kojo no tsuki (Moonlit castle ruins)
From: Monique
Date: 08 May 11 - 06:29 PM

http://olivier.magnani.free.fr/minyo.html : This French teacher of Japanese has many midis on his site. At the bottom of the page, there's a link to his page of children's songs tunes. The titles of the songs are in both Japanese (Romaji) and French.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Kojo no tsuki (Moonlit castle ruins)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 May 11 - 08:13 PM

Translation of last two verses, more or less-

3
The moon hangs above the ruins,
Unchanging, for whom does it shine?
Nothing clings to the walls but tendrils.
Only the storm sings among the pine boughs.
4
The moon and sky above are unchanging,
In life, there is ebb and flow;
Is the moon there to reflect these changes?
Ah! the moon over the desolate castle.

Japanese lyrics by Bansui Doi (Rinkichi Tsutsii).