Voices from japan and
vienna
2023 Dec 10, 19:30
Musikverein wien
Goldener Saal
金剛流御詠歌
WELCOME
we invite you to a mesmerising evening that transcends borders and celebrates the unifying essence of music.
The mystic sound of Japanese buddhist hymns will join the timeless elegance of Viennese classic, inspiring together to new symphonic tapestries.
The Choir will transport to places of tranquility and reflection by its serene vocal artistry, but also fascinate with dance and ancient buddhist rituals on stage. The alluring beauty of Schubert and Kreisler music will represent our Viennese tradition, performed by some of our most distinguished artists, the Eggner Trio and Yury Revich.
As Highlight, witness the magic that unfolds when both music realms come together. Two renowned Austrian composers will present new works, inspired by both worlds and composed especially for the occasion. Johannes Berauer ingeniously interweaves both music traditions with his arrangement of two Japanese hymns (Goeika) for Choir and Eggner Trio, adding his own sound to it, and as a crowning highlight, Yury Revich will conjoin this evening of musical contrasts premiering his new Masterpiece UNITY, for Tutti!
c) Mikel Vives
c) Mikel Vives
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PROGRAM
Part 1 both worlds
choir
HIROKABU
ROJINOGE
TEISAN
NYUDO
HANNYASHINGYO
SANGE
eggner trio
FRANZ SCHUBERT NOTTURNO
yury revich
FRITZ KREISLER RECITATIVO AND SCHERZO
FRITZ KREISLER LIEBESLEID (with christoph eggner)
YURY REVICH PRELUDE no. 1 (with christoph eggner)
Part 2 fusion
choir
KONGO
kazuhiro koga, eggner trio
dance hiromi koga
KANNONDAIJI
Ben Maeda and JOHANNES BERAUER
choir, eggner trio
HACHIYO
Shunno Sokabe and JOHANNES BERAUER
choir
MANDO MANGE WASAN
tutti
UNITY
YURY REVICH, arr. Baptiste Capitanio
GOEIKA (Japanese pilgrim songs)
and Kyoto Ninnaji Temple Choir
The choir consists of monks of Shingon Buddhism, the oldest Buddhist faith in Japan, and is named after the Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto, one of its main headquarters and an important place of pilgrimage for Japanese Buddhists.
Regular pilgrimages to the numerous Buddhist temples of Japan have always been an essential part of Japanese esoteric Buddhism, and the songs the choir will perform are GOEIKA, such traditional pilgrimage songs. Goeika have been sung and passed on by both monks and common people, and are thus influenced by both. The texts can come from Buddhist scriptures, such as sutras, but have folk-song-like verses. Usually, Buddha's infinite love is praised, which will redeem humans from their suffering. Goeikaare also sung at the ceremonies and rituals typical of esoteric Buddhism.
The 50 monks today are true masters of their craft, many of them Goeika teachers themselves. They have gathered from temples all over Japan to present you with this beautiful, serene and atmospheric choral music, showing a glimpse of the fascinating world of Japanese esoteric Buddhism. Taiko (big drums) and Horakai (conch flute) will add excitement, as well as a small ritual on stage, performed by the Monzeki, the high priest of Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto. You can look forward to this exquisite experience that will inspire you, just as audiences in many other countries, Italy, England, the USA (Carnegie Hall), have succumbed to the magic of this music.
The NINNAJI TEMPLE in Kyoto is the headquarter of Omuro Shingon Buddhism, a main branche of Shingon Buddhism. Founded in 888 by Emperor Uda, it has always had a close relationship with the Japanese imperial family. The numerous temples containing ancient sacred relics are spread over a beautiful sprawling area, famous in spring for its cherry blossoms. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
our story
VOICES OF JAPAN AND VIENNA is all about the harmonising essence of music that transcends cultures, concepts and religion. At the same time it is a magical experience that upholds highest musical standards and offers pure enjoyment - the top priority of any concert.
Obviously, merging religious Japanese buddhist hymns with worldly Viennese music presents an intriguing artistic challenge. But with the right people on board, this ambitious concept can create magic.
Japan is my second home, and nurturing connections, especially in the realms of music, my greatest joy. I was aware of the fascinating sacred music of Japanese Buddhism, so when the Kyoto Ninnaji Temple Choir approached me regarding a concert at the Musikverein, I was delighted. But, I was also curious about artistic feedback here in Vienna, whether this special music would resonate with our audiences too.
Luckily, not only was the response by Yury Revich, Eggner Trio and Johannes Berauer unanimously positive, but inspiration sparked high and with true artistic vision VOICES FROM JAPAN AND VIENNA was born, a fusion concert, where music of two totally different backgrounds is joined seamlessly together, simply because music meets beyond.
Selecting the perfect occidental counterpart music to harmonise with the Japanese hymns, needed collective brainstorming. After a wonderful artistic meeting in June together with the Choir, to my astonishment the choice fell not on Western sacred music, such as Bach, but Schubert and Kreisler as well as Yury Revich! Music truly exists without concepts.
Thus the program crystallised into its two parts shape, where the artists will illuminate their musical backgrounds in the first part, mystic Japanese buddhist music with elegant Viennese melodies, and in the second half both worlds melt together and create new sound. Johannes Berauer will blend his own music with two Japanese hymns, specially crafted for Eggner Trio and choir and UNITY, Yury Revich's new composition for tutti will conclude the concert with a fulminate ending.
So, join us in this unique celebration of music, of Japan and Vienna, of the wonderful team of artists from both worlds, their vision and enthusiasm, and ultimately, their music taking center stage!
Enjoy the experience! - and I shall look forward very much to your feedback!
Gisela Kato
yury revich, Johannes Berauer, Hiromi und Kazuhiro Koga, Christoph eggner, Gisela Kato (from left)
our voices
johannes berauer
Was für eine besondere und einmalige Gelegenheit, mit diesem authentischen buddhistischen Mönchschor und der traditionellen japanischen Goeika Musik zu arbeiten. Die beiden Lieder „Hachiyo“ und „Kannondaiji“, auf denen meine Kompositionen und Bearbeitungen basieren, muten in ihrer Tonalität und Emotion einerseits fremd und zugleich verblüffend vertraut an. Musik zweier Kulturen zu verbinden, ist immer ein aufeinander Zugehen und ein einander Zuhören, das meist offenbart, dass wir uns im Innersten unseres Menschseins gleichen. Musik vermag diese Erkenntnis so wunderbar rasch und unmittelbar erlebbar machen, weswegen sie wohl die beste Botschafterin zwischen unterschiedlichen Kulturen darstellt.
Ich bin also mit großer Begeisterung und gleichzeitig großem Respekt in dieses wunderschöne Projekt gegangen. Und habe in meiner Komposition versucht, einen Raum für diese besondere Begegnung aufzuspannen
christoph johannes eggner
Unsere Konzertprogramme entstehen oft auf ganz unvorhergesehene Art und Weise. Ein gutes Beispiel dafür ist das „Voices from Japan and Vienna“.
Eines Tages kam Frau Gisela Kato auf uns zu mit der Anfrage, ob wir in einem Konzert des japanischen Kyoto Ninnaji Temple Choir mitwirken möchten. Die Einzigartigkeit dieses Projektes, buddhistisch-japanische Pilgerchöre mit abendländischer Musik zu verbinden, hat uns vom ersten Moment an begeistert. Passend zu den hymnisch-erhebenden Klängen der buddhistischen Gesänge spielen wir das intro,-als auch extrovertierte Adagio-Notturno für Klaviertrio von Franz Schubert.
Johannes Berauer, seines Zeichens Komponist und langjähriger Freund des Eggner Trios, wird ein Arrangement von zwei japanischen Goeikas für Klaviertrio beisteuern, welches die Stimmen aus Japan und Wien zu einem harmonischen Ganzen vereinen wird.
Weitere Stimmen aus dem Abendland verstärkt der Geiger Yury Revich mit Werken von Fritz Kreisler und Eigenkompositionen. Darunter sind ein Stück für Violine und Klavier als auch eine Komposition zu hören, die am Ende des Programmes sämtliche Musiker auf der Bühne zu einem großen, einheitlichen Klangkörper vereinen wird.
yury revich
Im duftigen Klangteppich von meiner Komposition „Unity“, die ich für dieses besondere Konzert geschaffen habe, entfaltet sich ein delikater Tanz. Traditionelle buddhistische Mönchchorstimmen verschmelzen mit zeitgenössischem Flüstern der Elektronik und schaffen so ein spirituelles Erlebnis, das über die Zeit hinausgeht. Der Klang der Solovioline webt Fäden der Emotionen, während die Harmonien des Klaviertrios eine Leinwand der Selbstbeobachtung zeichnen.
Mit dem Entfalten meiner Komposition, kommen diese Elemente zusammen und schaffen eine künstlerische Symphonie, die von Verbundenheit flüstert.
In einer Welt, in der Spaltungen fortbestehen, dient „Unity“ als ergreifende Erinnerung an unsere gemeinsame Menschlichkeit und bietet einen musikalischen Zufluchtsort, der uns dazu einlädt, die heilige Verbindung von antiken Echos und modernen Schwingungen zu erkunden
taishu segawa
Head of the Omuro branch of Shingon Buddhism, Kyoto Ninna-ji Temple
On December 10th, 2023, I have the honor to perform for the first time Goeika music in Europe, at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria.
Many of the Goeika poetical lyrics are based on the teachings of Daishi, the founder of Japanese Shingon Buddhism. When chanted, they seem to have the power to mysteriously calm the mind.
A thousand years ago, far away from now, Emperor Uda founded the Ninna-ji Temple, to worship Daishi and pray for the happiness of the people. Ninnaji temple is now the center of the Omuro school, one major branch of Shingon Buddhism.
As for Goeika, time passed, and in 1938, Toshio Sogabe created the Kongoryu school of Goeika, which is the type of Goeika we will perform in Vienna. He ascended Mt. Koya from Amanosan Kongo-ji Temple and completed the Kongoryu hymns.
Today, almost 100 years since then, 50 volunteer Kongoryu Goeika teachers from different temples across Japan, will join top Western musicians in Vienna, known to be the capital of classic music.
I was moved by the possibility to present our Goeika music and decided to join myself. I would hope for people all over the world to enjoy this sacred music, with its roots in Japan, and pass it on to future generations.
Phone
+43 676 900 6120