Fantastic analysis! It probably doesn't merit a full follow up, but your line "there was no other way" evokes, of course, the song in Pacific Overtures. Tamate sees no other outcome but that her husband will fail and the family will be shamed, even as the lyrics indicate that she will have supper waiting when he returns. She "speaks" the words of normality, but each movement is leading to her suicide. The road she takes irrevocably alters Kayama's.
Such a brilliant, wise observation from the 40 year-old composer.
Watching John McMartin at Sondheim's 80th revisiting his song from 40 years earlier makes the observations you have written--UNDENIABLE. It breaks my heart.
A fine piece of writing - now that song hurts more than it ever did before.
Fantastic analysis! It probably doesn't merit a full follow up, but your line "there was no other way" evokes, of course, the song in Pacific Overtures. Tamate sees no other outcome but that her husband will fail and the family will be shamed, even as the lyrics indicate that she will have supper waiting when he returns. She "speaks" the words of normality, but each movement is leading to her suicide. The road she takes irrevocably alters Kayama's.
This is brilliant! So much richness to explore in this direction…
Such a brilliant, wise observation from the 40 year-old composer.
Watching John McMartin at Sondheim's 80th revisiting his song from 40 years earlier makes the observations you have written--UNDENIABLE. It breaks my heart.
A brilliant performance that I'm grateful is so easy to find and (re)watch!
Agreed! The finest performance of the song I've seen, and one that made me understand Ben more than I had before.
Reminds me of Sylvia Plath’s famous fig tree analogy!