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| Song Title: |
Yamadera
(adapted from Gezan Bayashi) |
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| Date Composed: |
Traditional |
| Composer: |
Unknown |
| Arrangement: |
Kiyoshi
Nagata |
| Premiere
Performance: |
December 1,
1997 - Toronto Buddhist Church, CD release concert.
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At the time
of the autumn equinox, the people of Aomori visit Iwaki Shrine at
the foot of sacred Mt. Iwaki to worship. On the last day, they undertake
their annual pilgrimage to the summit, carrying colourful banners
and wearing white robes.
The long procession is accompanied by hayashi: katsugi taiko (portable
drums), flute, tebira (cymbals) and nenbutsu (chanting). They
make two ascents: one at night to see the sunrise and the second in
daylight. After the purification ritual, the pilgrims descend the
mountain accompanied by hayashi.
Gezan Bayashi, literally means music for decending the mountains.The
origins of the pilgrimage, also known as Oyama-sankei, dates back
to the Genroku era (17th-18th century). Mt. Iwaki, an elegant 1, 625m
volcanic cone with its views over the Tsugaru Strait to the northern
island of Hokkaido is locally known as Tsugaru Fuji.
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