TAKEDA's Lullaby

Rising Above Prejudice

Singer-songwriter Suzue presents a new interpretation of the classic Japanese folk song Takeda's Lullaby. As an actively practicing Shintō priestess, she has adapted this timeless fragment of Japanese musical history to encapsulate the spiritual themes of the modern era of Reiwa - a name chosen to represent a period of "beautiful harmony" among all living things. 

Suppressed in popular media for several decades due to its controversial historical themes, Suzue has challenged herself to reveal the universal message of peace that she sees buried within the song's complex emotional tapestry.

The musical arrangement was meticulously constructed by Yoshihiro Tomonari, one of Japan's most talented and revered pianists. Tomonari's innovative arrangement assembles the melody note-by-note, gradually raising the key signature by two semitones, thereby laying the foundation required for Suzue to elevate her message "Rising Above Prejudice" to the listener.

Complementing Tomonari's vigorous piano performance, this work also features koto master Miho Yoshiba, who reveals her decades of mastery over the classic Japanese instrument with a captivating performance on a rare 25-string koto. Normally made with only 13 strings, this precious instrument was stretched to its limits to capture the emotional breadth and depth of the song while still respecting the parsimonious Japanese aesthetic of "wabisabi"- often translated as "subdued, austere beauty".

Also noteworthy are the lyrical verses chosen for this work. As with many folk songs across cultures, there is no single definitive version of Takeda's Lullaby - each interpretation must instead be woven as a historical composite, a conjugation of the artist with the era. In fact, it is said that fourteen distinct verses in total have been passed down over the course of the song's more than century-long history, and from these, six were chosen to represent the artists' vision.

In our modern interconnected world where cultural boundaries are increasingly blurred, this novel interpretation of Takeda's Lullaby was created to highlight our urgent need to recognize and rise above the innate fears and prejudices which lie dormant within all of us - and through its unique orchestration evoking both tenderness and brutality in tandem, the harmony of piano, koto, and vocals reveal the compacted cry for compassion hidden within this timeless masterpiece, as well as its underlying message of hope.