Burning
Hideko Kawamoto
About this work:
The imagery for Burning is derived from two poems, Western Wind and Lak (both by anonymous). Through reading Western Wind, I felt desperate desire and longing for love, in which one’s love probably will not be returned: a tragic separation. On the contrary, Lak implied a positive statement of one’s existence within a timeless frame. The visual images of Western Wind are portrayed with the actual words from Lak (Reprehend) in Dutch , serving as a countersubject into the sound created by computer. Burning was commissioned by Arizona State University and premiered by iChamber Ensemble conducted by J. B. Smith with dance choreographed by Cliff Keuter and Elina Mooney in Phoenix, March 2002.
Western Wind
Western wind, when will thou blow,
The small rain down can rain?
Christ! If my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again!
Lak
Lak, Nacht of avond,
Middag Morgen,
Maak je om de tijd geen zorgen,
En heb Lak aan de Kalender,
Als je maar kunt zeggen,
Ik ben hier
(English translation)
Lak, Night or evening,
Afternoon tomorrow,
Don’t worry about time,
And don’t worry about the calendar,
If only you can say,
I’m here
(translated by Muriel ten Damme)
Year composed: 2002
Duration: 00:17:20
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 2-5 players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Cello, 1 Prerecorded Sound (Tape/CD/Other)
Instrumentation notes: chamber ensemble with prerecorded sound in CD