千鳥の曲 Chidori no Kyoku [Song of Plovers] – Yoshizawa Kengyo (1800-1872)
Chidori no Kyoku is one of a set of compositions for voice and the koto entitled Kokin no Kumi, in which a new tuning (and mode) for the koto, called Kokin-choshi, was introduced. Two waka poems are sung in this piece: the first waka is from the Kokin Waka Shu, a tenth century anthology of court poetry compiled by imperial command. The second one, sung after the tegoto (instrumental interlude), is from the Kinyo Shu, a twelfth century anthology.
Text:
Shionoyama At Shionoyoma
Sashide no iso ni Frequenting the sand spit
Sumu chidori Plovers call out:
Kimi ga miyo woba “You, my lord,
Yachiyo tozo naku may you live eight thousand years!”
Awajishima At Awaji Island
Kayo chidori no The call of the plovers,
Naku koe ni flying to and fro.
Ikuyo nezamenu How often they have awakened
Suma no sekimori the guard at Suma Pass