Eliane Aberdam

Otohime

Otohime is based on a Japanese folk tale about a young fisherman. One day he catches a fish. But the fish persuades the fisherman to set him free, to let him go, because he is Otohime, the princess of the sea. She promises to take him to her beautiful palace under the sea. Urashima Taro appears to stay there for three days, while in reality three hundred years pass. As a parting gift, Otohime gives him a small box, called Tamatebako, and warns him that it must stay close to him the whole time. When Urashima Taro returns to Mizu-No-Ye, he does not recognize the village and sees his parents' grave in the cemetery. He is desperate and decides to open the box. But Tamatebako was the spell that kept Urashima Taro young, and when he opens it, he becomes a 300-year-old man. His hair turns white, his teeth fall out, he becomes an old man and collapses on the floor.

The first movement "Mizu-no-ye" is about the sea and with four 32nd-note motifs it reflects the tiny movements of the fish. It draws the tiniest sparks and drops of water with two-note pizzicati and ends with Urashima and Otohime's dive into the underwater palace.

The second movement, "Otohime", depicts life in the palace, and the main theme returns three times (three days, three hundred years). It is slow and opulent, harmonically rich and solemn.

After a brief transition depicting Urashima's reappearance, the third movement, "Tamatebako", erupts into rapid movements and dramatic chords that are meant to embody Urashima's return, his confusion, the rapid beating of his heart and, at the same time, the speed with which the years have passed under the sea.

The double bass is the perfect instrument to symbolize the depth of the sea, the length of time and the tragedy of history. Embedded in the composition are quotations from Concerto XII "La Folia", Concerto IV and Concerto VI by Francesco Geminiani.