Arguably the best album composed by Kitaro,
Kojiki is one of the main gems of classical new age. This album is based on the Japanese version of how the world actually formed, as differ from the Chinese. All the songs in this album interrelate to each other as they depict a story of their own; from joy to battle to festive mode. From the beginning to the end, you'd be truly mesmerised by the sheer instrumental brilliance of the songs...some even more poignant than the rest. The songs are repeatedly played countless times; in concerts (notably the U.S. concert) and in numerous occasions and ceremonies, but haven't been transcribed into a play or a musical (yet).
No, this is not your typical noise ground: Kitaro conjures melodies that will be music to your ears (
Silk Road, The Soong Sisters OST, anyone?)...but not as melancholy as his earlier compositions.
Playlist:
1.
Hajimari (In The Beginning)
"
In the beginning, the heavens and the earth were one. The sky was of angry black clouds and the sea was nothing more than a seething, murky swamp. Life as we know it did not exist.
Then one day the clouds began to swirl and grow, thunder crashed and a terrible rain began to fall. It rained night and day for weeks and months, as if it had done so forever.
At last the rain stopped, and the heavens and the earth had separated. From the waters and the mud the gods began to appear, like young shoots of grass springing forth from the east.
This is how the world began."
This is very apt: the melody composed brings in the beginning of a story.
"Once upon a time..."
2.
Sozo (The Birth Of A Land)
"
The last of the gods to rise up from the chaos were Izanagi and the goddess Izanami. From the Bridge of Rainbows in Takamagahara, far above where the other gods live, they stirred the sea with a spear. When they withdrew the spear, the drops of mud that fell from it created a most beautiful group of islands. Izanagi and Izanami went to live in the land, and were married. There, Izanami gave birth to many gods including those of the wind, the sea, the mountains and the earth."
This song gives a mood of accomplishment; one that is slightly victorious, but not too much.
3.
Koi (Love And The Death Of Izanami)
"
The last god to be born was the god of fire, after which Izanami died. Her death caused her son Mikoto, the god of the night, terrible pain and grief. At last his father, Izanagi, disturbed at his son's weakness, expelled him from the land of the gods. After much wandering, Mikoto, found himself in a village terrorized by the Eight-Headed Dragon and where the beautiful maiden Kushinadahime lived. It is here that Mikoto first discovered love."
Ahem, a little romance in the middle?
4.
Orochi (The Eight-Headed Dragon)
"
The Dragon was a terrible creature with eyes as red as Chinese lanterns. It had eight giant heads and tails long enough to span eight mountains and valleys. The monster dragon had already destroyed the village and devoured Kushinadahime's seven sisters, and it was feared he would soon return to claim the fair maiden. Using all of his cunning and strength Mikoto defeated the monster in a long and brutal battle."
One of my favourites of this album, this is battle royale. Although the plot goes slightly slow and a tad redundant, this song is great. Simple.
5.
Nageki (Sorrow In A World Of Darkness)
"
After Mikoto was thrown out of the land of the gods, his sister Hikaru, goddess of the sun, took pity on him and invited him to come live with her in Takamagahara. Mikoto was happy to do so, but his mischief soon caused Hikaru much grief. Hikaru fell into great despair and went to hide in the Celestial Rock Cave, plunging the world into total darkness. For this, Mikoto was thrown out of Takamagahara."
One of the more melancholy ones.
6.
Matsuri (The Festival)
"
Mikoto prayed and prayed to his father Izanzgi to get Hikaru to come out from the cave. Meanwhile, some of the other gods gathered around the cave to sing and dance in a happy and joyous festival. Hikaru, thinking it strange that people were holding a festival in a dark and cold world, opened the stone gate before the cave to see what was happening. Just then Tajikarao, the god of strength, pushed away the stone and pulled Hikaru from the cave. The festival had been nothing but a trick."
The most renowned track from the album, it has been played countless times everywhere. Remember the song that resembles a festive mood every time you get to ceremonies? This is one of the background music that accompanies this.
The ending shows an expectant mood as Tajikarao pulls his sibling out of the cave.
7.
Reimei (The New Dawn)
"
As Hikaru came out from the cave, her light shown brilliantly in Takamagahara and throughout all the lands. Flowers began to bloom, birds began to sing and peace returned. With Hikaru's blessing, Mikoto and Kushinadahime were married and lived happily ever after. It was the beginning of a new dawn in Yamato (Japan)."
Although this song carries the same mood as Sozo (and quite the same melody), the bells behind it choruses a celebratory mood: the wedding of Mikoto and Kushinadahime. Electric guitars make this sound a bit like Scorpions and Queen, but not as heavy.
Source:
Transcription from
here
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