Language of Flowers [2016] by Mischa Salkind-Pearl

2016

[Under the Cherry Trees]
[Sub Rosa]
[Lemon]

Tony Arnold, soprano
James Baker, conductor
Wellesley Composers Conference faculty ensemble

performed live on 7.30.16 in Wellesley

//TEXT (trans.) by Kajii Motojiro
transliterated by Mahoko Taniguchi

[Under the Cherry Trees]
Dead bodies are buried under the cherry trees!
You have to believe it. Otherwise, you couldn’t possibly explain the beauty of the cherry blossoms. I was restless, lately, because I couldn’t believe in this beauty. But I have now finally understood: dead bodies are buried under the cherry trees. You have to believe it.

[Lemon]
Before my life started being eaten into, the place I used to like best of all was Maruzen. There were red and yellow eau de cologne and eau de quinine. There were ornately etched and polished perfume bottles; Kiriko glass, with raised figures of amber and jade in an elegant rococo style. There were Japanese smoke pipes, knives, soaps, and cigarettes.