ABUTSU-BO

This composition is inspired by Abutsubo, a Japanese samurai of the thirteenth century who was a follower of the Nembutsu secret society and lived on the Sado Island. In those years, Sado was one of the most remote Japanese provinces where undesired people, political opponents, and prisoners were exiled. When the Buddhist monk Nichiren Daishonin was exiled to Sado in October 1271, Abutsu-bo visited him at Tsukahara to confront him in debate, but instead he converted to his teachings and became one of his faithful supporters. He assisted Nichiren during his exile, supplying him with food and other necessities during his stay on the island. After Nichiren went to live at the foot of Mount Minobu, Abutsu-bo, despite his advanced age, made at least three journeys to visit him with offerings. In Myosenji, on the Sado Island, there is a temple dedicated to Abutsu-bo. The piece is built on a two-measure riff comprising three quarter notes, two eight notes, and two halfnotes. This melodic cell repeats many times in different forms throughout the sections of the composition: at first slowly and solemn (in the initial "Molto moderato"), then faster and rhythmical ("Allegro"), in augmentation ("a tempo" – measure 86), in fugato form ("Poco più lento" – measure 135). Other rhythmical and melodic elements set a contrast and combine with the principal theme, as, for instance, the rhythmic element introduced by the woodwinds at measure 42, which will then become the pulsating rhythm of the concluding "Tempo allegro" in counterpoint with the main melody.