one time, one meeting by Natalie Moller

one time, one meeting
[ichi-go ichi-e]
Flute & piano
By Natalie Moller, 2014
Poetry by Holly Hoenshell-Nelson

Commissioned by Erika Boysen for her second dissertation recital, "Music with Spoken Word."

Premiered December 7th, 2014
Stamps Auditorium, University of Michigan

Erika Boysen, flute
Steve McGhee, piano

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(Say...)

Can two raindrops each
touch and roll down a stone
in the same place and the same path?

(Can't undo)

Can the meeting of brush and paper,
a single stroke of thought and ink,
be undone?

(Solitary 'til meeting)

Can the pot of tea we share
pour the same flavor into
your cup and mine?

(Say...)

Is twice ever twice?

(One)

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Program Notes (writted by Holly Hoenshell-Nelson & Natalie Moller):

Enter a Japanese tea house, and
you may find on a wall-hanging scroll
the characters “ichigo, ichie.”
One time, one meeting.
A reminder that every encounter,
like every cup of tea, is unique.
Each meeting may be treated
as both the first and the last,
a raindrop on stone,
a falling leaf on the air.

Enter a musical space, and
you may come to an understanding shared
between performers and audience alike.
One time, one meeting.
The knowledge that every performance,
like every breath and sound, is unique.
Each experience may be treated
as both the first and the last,
a brushstroke on paper,
a fleeting whisper in the air.

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Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U31uNXSPQYM