Tôsha Suihô: 四季の笛 (Die Vier Jahreszeiten In Kyoto) (1983)

秋 – AUTUMN

10. Kiyotaki

Kiyotaki is located north of Kyoto and used to be a popular pilgrimage site on the way to Atago. Along the ravine are numerous hotels and restaurants. In the middle of the ravine runs the river Kiyotakigawa. The Kiyotakigawa is only 20 km long overall, but offers many beautiful views because of its varied, sometimes calm, sometimes torrential current. The river with its rocky bed is attractive in every season. Personally, I find it most beautiful in autumn. The mountains on the river shine in autumnal red colors and the branches of the maple almost hang in the water, which turns red in the reflection – an indescribably beautiful picture.

As I stood on a rock in the river watching the current, only sad melodies rose in me. At that moment, the wind blew as if he wanted to drive away my depressed mood. The leaves fell from the trees and it suddenly offered me a completely different view. – [5] Autumn, Site 1 (a), September 1982, Shinobue-flute

11. Kaze No Uta. (The Poetry Of The Wind)

In the northwest of Kyoto lies along a river the famous because of its beautiful autumn foliage Takao. In Takao, there is the temple Jingoji, whose history dates back to the 8th century and was re-founded in the 12th century by the priest Mongaku.

I climbed Mount Takaosan to hear the sound of the wind. I climbed up among dense cedar trees. Suddenly I came to a place where you had a wide open view of the valley. The wind blew over the opposite mountain and rose again to me.

With my eyes closed, I enjoyed the feeling of the wind on my skin. At the same time I tried to listen to the sound of the gentle wind.

For a long time I wanted to imitate the sound of the wind with the flute. I wanted to realize this long-cherished wish now. – [5] Autumn, Site 1 (b), October 1982, Shinobue-flute

12. Ōsugi-gongen. (The Sacred Cedar)

The mountain Kuramayama in the north of Kyoto is actually not far away from the city, but because of the large cedars and cypress trees it is there even during the day dark and you feel like in the deep mountains. Probably because of this mysterious darkness, legends about long-nosed goblins and about the youth of the hero Yoshitsune (Ushikawa mara) have been attached to this place.

In the depths of the Kuramayama stands a cedar that is over a thousand years old and is worshiped as a divine gong. In this cedar, the young Yoshitsune eagerly practiced fencing with a goblin as a partner.

Already by day it is scary, how much more dreadful it must be in the night; one can imagine that at midnight evil spirits leap over the tree roots protruding like veins from the earth.

In my imagination, I imagined the goblins jumping around while I played this piece. – [6] Autumn, Site 2 (a), October / November 1982, Nokan-flute

13. Shigure No Ato. (After The Autumn Rain)

The Kuramadera Temple stands on Mount Kuramayama, in a straight line 12 km north of the imperial palace in Kyoto. For a thousand years, this temple has been worshiped as the northern temple of Kyoto.

From Niō Gate at Kurama Station, the path leads to the temple. On both sides of the Temple Way are ancient high cedars and this fell for the typical Kyoto autumn rains. I felt as if I was going through a dark tunnel to another time, 800 years back.

When I arrived in the main building, it stopped raining and the clouds cleared over the mountains. The raindrops fell rhythmically from the roof down and the birds in the woods around them began to sing.

The temple Kuramadera with its red balustrades has something of the elegance of the Heian period. When I stood in front of the main building in the large front yard, it seemed to me that the lovers of that time wordlessly appear before me.

With the thought of the countless unfortunate lovers, fleeing from the power struggles at the Hole and the constant military conflicts, here in short luck, I played the flute. – [6] Autumn, Site 2 (b), October / November 1982, Shinobue-flute

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