Moon Over Ruined Castle (荒城の月) - Voice in English and Double Bass

Composer: Rentarou Taki （作曲：滝廉太郎） Lyrics: Bansui Doi（作詞：土井晩翠） Arrangement and translation: Kevin E. Richards（編曲、翻訳：ケビン・イー・リチャーズ） Mezzo Soprano: Crystal Harris（メゾソプラノ：クリスタル・ヘリス） Double Bass: Kevin E. Richards（コントラバス：ケビン・イー・リチャーズ） Recording: Radomir Jordanovic（録音：ラドミル・ヨーダノビッチ） This piece was written in 1901 for unaccompanied voice by Rentarou Taki with lyrics by Bansui Doi. A popular arrangement, which included piano accompaniment was written years later by Kosaku Yamada. I have written an accompaniment for double bass and have personally translated the original Japanese lyrics into English with the hope of making this gorgeous melody more accessible for audiences outside of Japan. I really hope that you enjoy this rendition.. Many, many thanks to my good friend, Crystal Harris, who sang beautifully and was very patient with my constant delays and changing of lyrics. I credit her with the idea of forming this unusual ensemble and I hope that our schedules and locations will permit us to play an original work in the future. 日本語を書くのがまだ下手だから、簡単な紹介です。私は英語圏にこの素晴らしいメロディーを促進するために、歌詞を英語に翻訳しました。本来の意味や意図を伝えるために最善を尽くしました。それに加えて、コントラバスの伴奏を書きました。私とクリスタルさんは演奏することを大いに楽しみました。私たち聞いてくれてありがとうございます！ They feasted in towers high o’er blossoms of spring, Moonlight glittered on the wine that they passed around. Ancient pine tree branches glowed in that very light. What moon lit these days of old? Where might it be now? Soldiers lingered in their ranks painted white with frost. Flocks of autumn geese took wing, crying as they soared. Moonlight glared along cruel swords planted in the ground. What moon lit these days of old? Where might it be now? Now the castle ruins sleep ‘neath the midnight moon. Silver beams, unaltered, guide travelers in the dark. On the crumbling fortress walls, only ivy grows. Through the pine tree branches sing, only wind and snow. In the heavens shines a light, bright as e’er before, Over passing pleasures and troubles of this world. Will you not on ravaged keep, cast your timeless light As you did so long ago, O great midnight moon?