Async Wind Chronicles #1: In Remembrance of Ryuichi Sakamoto
Reflecting on š <How Many More Times Will I Watch the Full Moon Rise>
On this day last year (Mar 28th, 2023), a great musician whom I deeply admire passed away. His name was Ryuichi Sakamoto. Just a few days ago, I finished reading his final autobiography - <How Many More Times Will I Watch the Full Moon Rise>. The book is filled with poignant stories and profound reflections, it struck me deeply and I feel I've only just begun to appreciate the depths of his artistry and how great a human being he was.
Below are some of the stories and music that particularly touched me in the book.
šµ Story 1: Yesterdayļ¼When I Was Young
When Ryuichi Sakamoto was hospitalized during his cancer treatment, one day he played a song sent by his son. He find his tears streamed down after hearing the intro and verse. The version he listened to was sung by Roy Clark. I had previously heard Dusty Springfield's version of this song in the movie <Toast>, which was also deeply moving. Listening to Roy Clark's rendition while reading the lyrics, my tears cascaded down and blurred my vision š„ŗ. Perhaps because I just had my birthday celebration three days ago, I couldnāt help but ponder the thousand dreams I dreamed and the pain my dazzled eyes refused to see.
(Lyrics from Roy Clarksā version) ć°ļø ć°ļø ć°ļø
Yesterday when I was young The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue I teased at life as if it were a foolish game The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame The thousand dreams I dreamed the splendid things I planned I always built to last on weak and shifting sand I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day And only now I see how the years ran away Yesterday when I was young So many happy songs were waiting to be sung so many wild pleasures lay in store for me and so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see
šµ Story 2: Musicians who create till the end of their lives
Ryuichi Sakamoto mentioned in the book that when he was a kid, he listened to Johann Sebastian Bach's final work - <Die Kunst Der Fuge> and he was curious why the final piece abruptly ended in the middle. It wasn't until later that he learned Bach had gone blind in the last three months of his life. When the composer reached this point in the composition, his eyes could no longer see.
Another famous musician Claude Debussy, who passed away at his 50s. His final composition was written for a coal merchant. It was during the First World War, everything was short in supplies in Europe. The coal merchant brought coal to Debussy who languished bedridden in illness. Debussy composed this piano short piece for him and that was his final opus.
šµ Story 3: Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" is Ryuichi Sakamoto's signature piece, but for ten years, he refused to play this piece because wherever he went, people would ask him to play this one constantly.
It wasn't until a turning point in 2010 when he attended Carole King's concert at the Budokan in Japan. Like other audience, he was eagerly awaiting her to sing her signature song - "You've Got a Friend." When Carole King finally sang it, he felt so happy. That's when he had an epiphany. He realized that just as he felt uneasy attending other artists' concerts and not hearing their signature pieces, he had been refusing to play "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" for audiences who came specifically for that. From then on, he began performing the piece again.
šµ Story 4: The Shadow of Traditional Hawaiian Music
Hawaiian music always carries a relaxed, seaside vacation vibe, but this "traditional music" isn't originally native to Hawaii. It emerged after Hawaii became a territory of the United States, as Hawaiian musicians adapted American country music to appeal to white American tourists. Itās essentially a music culture that catered to the desires of the ruling class.
The below piece "Energy Flow," was created by Ryuichi Sakamoto when he was in Hawaii for cancer alternative treatment. You can almost feel the ocean breeze.
šµ Story 5: Illia and Support Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Ryuichi Sakamoto came across a video that deeply moved him. It showed a young violinist named Illia Bondarenko playing a traditional Ukrainian folk song in an underground shelter. Ryuichi Sakamoto later composed a violin and piano concerto for Illia, titled "Piece for Illia." In this piece, Sakamoto incorporated part of the melody from the Ukrainian national anthem.
šµ Story 6: Sakamotoās journal
(20220320) For me, music is like a teahouse along the path to the mountaintop.No matter how tired I am, catching sight of it quickens my pace. (like) After having onigiri, I regain my energy for the latter half of the climb. (20230316) Music, Full moon (20230324) No energy (20230326) 0545 Body temperature 36.7C/ Blood pressure 115-80mmHg/ Blood oxygen saturation 97%
On March 26, 2023, two days before Sakamoto passed away, he was watching livestream of Tohoku Orchestra peforming in Tokyo, for which he was the music director. When Sayuri Yoshinaga recite the line "I can part with him forever" (å¾č¼©ćÆå½¼ćØę°øé ć«å„ććäŗćåŗę„ć), Sakamoto placed his hand on his chest and uttered, "It's so wonderful...I can't let go." choking in tears, crying aloud. This might have been Sakamoto's final "conducting" of music.
The performance was captured in below album, which was released in March 20th, 2024.
Thank you Mr. Sakamoto, youāre still the light of many peopleās hearts. Itās a blessing to hear your music. Yet, even more profoundly, your warmth and wisdom illuminate the person I aspire to be and the meaning of life I yearn to search.
