Saodake Uri

Saodake Uri

Date Composed:2012
Composer:Kiyoshi Nagata
Arrangement:Kiyoshi Nagata
Premiere Performance:November 10, 2012 – Enwave Theatre
Recording Title:Hymus Road CD

In the streets of old Japan, peddlers were extremely common. They were vendors for virtually everything, from vegetables, medicine, baskets and even furniture. They went from house to house and walked enormous distances, especially in the countryside. Life was extremely hard for these people. Vendors used special calls to make potential customers aware of their arrival. To this day, you can still hear the mournful calls of vendors selling bamboo laundry poles called saodake. This piece envisions the long lonely journey of the travelling vendor, as well as the uplifting and exciting experiences encountered along the way.