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Jürg Frey (1953-), 60 Pieces of Sound (2009); a.pe.ri.od.ic, live, Chicago, 2013
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a solitary
crow on a bare branch—
autumn evening—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
more
Jürg Frey (1953-), Memory of Perfection (2010); Mira Benjamin (violin), live, London, 2013
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autumn wind
through an open door—
a piercing cry—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by David Landis Barnhill
sounds of Mali
Toumani Diabate (kora), live, Switzerland (Geneva), 2013
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like clouds drifting apart,
a wild goose separates, for now,
from his friend—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by David Landis Barnhill
sounds of Mali and South Africa
Twelve strings, two voices—that’s it.
Habib Koite (Mali; lead vocals, guitar), Vusi Mahlasela (South Africa; vocals, guitar), “Africa,” live (studio performance), Seattle, 2016
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Deep autumn—
my neighbor,
how does he live, I wonder?—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Robert Hass
alone
Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007), Klavierstück V
Maurizio Pollini (1942-), live, Paris, 2002
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The morning glory!
this too cannot be
my friend.—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Robert Aitken
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Michel Portal (clarinets, accordion), Hamid Drake (drums), live, France (Le Mans), 2012
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Skylark
sings all day,
and day not long enough.—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto
more
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor
Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997), live, Moscow, 1975
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Here in my house
a square of light—
moon through the window—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by David Young
never enough
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor
Jonathan Biss, live, New York, 2011
One of the things I admire about this performance is its immediacy: it feels not like recitation but spontaneous utterance.
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One insect
asleep on a leaf
can change your life—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by David Young
Close your eyes.
Listen—just listen.
If you don’t have time for this, what do you have time for?
Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996), From me flows what you call Time (1990); La Jolla Symphony (Steven Schick, cond.), live, San Diego, 2008
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Come, see
real flowers
of this painful world.—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto
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