HachiRen by Chihiro Ono

“I made this little set of pieces to share a story of the iconic Japanese composer, Taki Rentarou. His musical life had many Western influences, yet he never lost the strong core of his nation in his heart, which I can relate to. Doi’s words and Rentarou’s music resonate strongly with me. The moon is always shining equally upon us, with or without us, whatever happens to our lives. The moon sees all and life go on with “Mujo” - the world is impermanent.” – Chihiro Ono

Reimagining Taki Rentarou’s Japanese folk song “Kojo-no-Tsuki”, HachiRen is a suite in four movements. A small nod to the significance of the number three in Japanese culture, the work opens with three distinct chimes of a bell to welcome the listener to the delicate sound world of HachiRen.

The first movement “8 (Hachi)” combines Ono’s version of Kojo no Tsuki with influences from virtuoso violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini, portraying an imagined Japanese Summer in the time of Rentarou’s birth.
Themes from the folk song carry through into the second movement “Kojo”, taking inspiration from the feeling that Rentarou Taki might have experienced while viewing an old castle bathed in moonlight.

Partly derived from a scale used in the traditional Japanese folk song “Sakura Sakura”, the following movement ‘SakuraFubuki’ is a musical depiction of a blossom blizzard.

Concluding the work, the final movement “Ren” brings together many of Ono’s personal musical influences, taking its name from the Japanese word meaning ‘continually linked’. The close to the suite also sees Ono reflecting on the impermanence of all things – or “Mujo” – particularly in reference to the short yet impactful life of Rentarou.

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Chihiro Ono
Born in Chiba, Japan, Chihiro Ono is a London-based Japanese violinist and sound artist specialising in classical and contemporary chamber music, experimental music and sound art. She has performed at major festivals and venues across the UK and worldwide, and regularly works with esteemed experimental and classical ensembles including Ensemble Modern, ARCO, Apartment House, CHROMA, London Mozart Players, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and more.
Alongside performing, Chihiro’s work as a composer and sound artist has led to her producing works for radio, theatre and film productions in the UK. Her work draws on influences from a rich variety of repertoire, encompassing folklore, field recording, improvisation and more.
chihiroono.com