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Nine Melodies From The Folksong Repertoire of Japan, Where
A Baby Never Goes To Sleep Unattended.
The Japanese lullabye is part of the babysitter tradition of
this rural culture, where a baby never went to sleep without
being attended by another person. Since the parents would be
laboring out in the fields, this other person was either the
older sister, elderly relation, or servant. The songs were about
putting the baby to sleep, but, as life was rustic and difficult,
often the topic was the lamentations of the babysitter's own
hardship, which was seen as being in contrast to the carefree
life of the child. The songs frequently include reference to
the two vacation-times in the year: New Years and mid-summer
Obon Festival, when the babysitter would be allowed to return
to her home village. The titles usually pertain to the place
of origin of the song. After a time the songs started migrating
around Japan, aquiring new words as well as melody variations.
For some songs many versions now exist. Since the words include
colloquial expressions, they unfortunately loose much of their
sense when translated directly into English
The repertoire of folksongs in Japan is very large. The four
separate main islands of this country, and its mountainous terrain,
helped to create many small provinces and districts of varied
character. This gave rise to a wide variety of folk traditions
and music.
1. Itsuki no Komoriuta (Lullabye of Itsuki Village)
A song sung by a servant; she is waiting for the Obon festival
when she will be able to go back to her own village.
2. Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
One of Japan's most popular tunes, the welcome beauty (and warmth!)
of Springtime, symbolized by the beloved cherry tree in bloom.
3. Ora no Omboku (Night Has Fallen)
"...where have mother and father gone? They will bring presents
back, now sleep, sleep..." Another song from the Chugoku
area.
4. Kojyo no Tsuki (Abandoned Castle in Moonlight)
"...walking on a Spring night, the old castle used to
be beautiful and full of people. Now it is old and abandoned..."
This is a popular song throughout Japan, written in the last
century. Not strictly speaking a lullabye, but still sung as
a children's song.
5. Boya wa Yoi Ko Da (You're A Good Child)
"...you will be going to the village on the other side of
the Mountain where there will be drumming..." Considered
a national Lullabye, sung all over Japan, with many variations
of words and melody.
6. Chugoku no Komoriuta (Lullabye of Chugoku)
"....you're such a good boy when you're sleeping but it's
so hard when you're crying..." From the Chugoku area in
the Southwest part of Honshu (Japan's main island)
7. Tsugaru Yama Uta (Tsugaru Mountain Song)
"...when i was fifteen I went up into the mountains..."
a "coming of age song" from the far northern district
of Honshu. Not strictly speaking a lullabye, but perhaps sung
by the father to his son.
8. Shimabara no Komoriuta (Lullabye of Shimabara)
"...little baby go to sleep, go to sleep..." from the
Shimabara area on the Sea of Japan.
9. Takeda no Komoriuta (Lullabye of Takeda)
"...Winter-time is so harsh and I long to go home..."
a song from the village of Takeda. The words are old but the
melody was written in modern times.
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