singer, one-man choir, guitarist and composer
Kichijiro (inspired by the book 'Silence' by Shusaku Endo) for viola and harp
SM-000369778
- Composer
- David W Solomons
- Publisher
- David W Solomons
- Genre
- World / Ethnic / Japanese
- Instrumentation
- Viola, Harp
- Scored for
- Duo
- Type of score
- Score for two performers, Parts
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year of composition
- 2019
Description
This music was inspired by the book 沈黙 (Chinmoku - Silence)
by Shusaku Endo (a historical novel based on events in Japan in the 17th century -
the title refers to the silence of God in the face of suffering)
Some say that Kichijiro (キチジロー) is an equivalent of Judas, but his way of thinking
is quite different:
He simply cannot accept that the Japanese Christian minority of his time should suffer
just because they have adopted the foreign religion of Christianity.
He gives up his faith and betrays the main character, the missionary Rodrigues.
The thoughts of Kichijiro are reflected in the music especially in the Japanese pentatonic equivalent of the old carol "Oh come all ye faithful" which is repeated in a somewhat wistful and yet sardonic way by the two instruments.
It also reflects Shusaku Endo's own views on
Christianity, in which he was brought up but with which
he never felt comfortable.
The sound sample here is an electronic preview.