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 Ballet by John Neumeier
Music |
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Arvo Pärt
Johann Sebastian Bach |
Choreography
Set
Light Design |
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John Neumeier |
Costumes |
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Yukiko Hanai |
55 min.
World Premiere
 Tokyo Ballet, Tokyo, July 21, 1989
Original Cast |
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| The Moon |
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Kazuo Kimura |
| Contemplators of the Moon |
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Yukari Saito
Naoki Takagishi |
Premiere in Hamburg
The Hamburg Ballet, June 13, 2010
Speaker John Neumeier
Costumes John Neumeier
Original Hamburg Cast |
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| The Moon |
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N.N. |
| Contemplators of the Moon |
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N.N.
N.N. |
With my ballet "Seven Haiku ot the Moon", created for the Tokyo Ballet in 1989, I wanted to approach Japanese culture in a very direct, honest and artistically constructive way. That is, not to copy Japanese "style" superficially, but rather to study and to try to understand certain essences of this very special culture through direct contact with music and poetry. Of course, such understanding remains subjective since it is my (American-European) understanding of Yuasa's music or a Haiku by Bashó that inspires the choreography.
John Neumeier
Haiku and the Music
Reflection of the Night Sky
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Andante from Sonata for Flute and Continuo, BWV 1034
I
What a red moon!
And whose is it,
children?
Issa
Music: Arvo Pärt
"Arbos"
Sarabande of the Red Moon
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Sarabande from Partita in A minor for Solo Flute, BWV 1O13
II
They look like men
on moonlight nights and scarecrows
draw one' pity then
Shiki
Music: Arvo Pärt
"Perpetuum mobile" op. 10
III
On people, four or five
the moon begins to set –
the circle-dance!
Buson
Music: Arvo Pärt
Sarabande from "Collage über B-A-C-H"
Reflection of the Night Sky
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Sicilienne from Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord, BWV 1031
IV
Icy the moonshine:
Shadow of a tombstone,
Shadow of a pine.
Shiki
Music: Arvo Pärt
"Dreiklangskonzert", 1st Movement
V
Spring too, very soon!
They are setting the scene for it –
Plum tree and moon.
Bashô
Music: Arvo Pärt
"Dreiklangskonzert", 2nd Movement
VI
My grumbling wife
if only she were here!
This moon tonight...
Issa
Music: Arvo Pärt
"Dreiklangskonzert", 3rd Movement
VII
Leading me along,
my shadow goes back home
from looking at the moon
Sodô
Music: Arvo Pärt
"Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten"
As bell tones fade,
blossom scents take up the ringing
evening shade!
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