Choreography and dance rehearsing: Nada Belada Dancers from the Voorpleiding Artez and Talentenklas Kaliber Kunstenschool Harmonie Sint Jan - Wierden - Egbert van Groningen Live recording , July 14, 2022, Rodahal Kerkrade 10:00 I. Introduction. A beach, a calm sea in the background. The porch of a temple is revealed, with an old monk sitting on it. Attached to the roof over the porch are three 'furin', Japanese wind bells. A broad strip of paper with beautiful Japanese characters written on it is hanging underneath each bell. A gentle sea-breeze makes the papers move and this makes the bells ring softly and sweetly. The monk is sitting on the porch, looking out at the ocean and smiling. The temple and the monk disappear. PART I 14:35 II. Mohej and the Mononoke The pharmacist Mohej, in his shop, is feeling depressed. Unbeknownst to him, he is plagued by three mononoke, invisible vengeful spirits that curse people until they get sick or die. This causes him to feel depressed and ill all the time. 17:10 III. Mohej’s Journey This can’t go on! He makes up his mind to visit the monk and ask his advice. He sets off. On his way, he meets various passers-by. His mononoke follow him. 19:00 IV. Mohej’s Plea Having arrived at the monk’s temple, he sees the old man seated contentedly on his porch and he hears the soothing ringing of the silver bells. He realizes that these little bells would make him happy as well if he could sit there and listen to them. And indeed the mononoke hate the sound of the chimes. Mohej beseeches the monk to lend him the bells, just for a single day. The gentle monk grants him his request, adding "But do not forget to bring them back tomorrow morning." While the mononoke are cowering in the background, Mohej reverently thanks the monk and promises to bring back the bells the next day. 21:00 V. Mohej’s Return Home Mohej returns home with the bells, full of impatience. Again, he meets some passers-by. His mononoke follow him at a distance. 22:45 VI. First Dance of Joy Having arrived home, Mohej hangs the little chimes over the porch. They begin to ring. The mononoke are now definitely chased away by their sound. Mohej, however, becomes so light-hearted, and the world suddenly seems so beautiful that he begins to dance. PART II 27:52 VII. The Monk’s Impatience The next day. The old monk is seen, waiting for the return of the pharmacist with his furin. Gone is his peaceful good mood. He is gradually getting impatient. Still, Mohej is nowhere to be seen. Instead, one of the mononoke now enters, frustrated and vengeful for having been chased away by the bells. Stealthily, he approaches the old monk, who is becoming more and more impatient. The mononoke now stays around the monk, depriving him of what was left of his good mood. Feeling depressed, the old monk waits and waits. Time passes… 33:42 VIII. Taro and Jiro are Called Finally, the monk has had enough. He calls his disciples Taro and Jiro. They come immediately. The monk orders them to go to the pharmacist and bring back the wind bells. Taro and Jiro promise to do so. 34:59 IX. Taro’s and Jiro’s Errand They set off. On their way, they meet some passers-by. 36:41 X. Second Dance of Joy Just before the entrance to Mohej's garden they stop. They hear the happy ringing of the bells. They enter the garden and are astonished to see the apothecary, dancing around with sleeves and laps flying in the air. They are transfixed by this sight. But then, all of a sudden, they become so happy, that they, too, begin to dance. The three of them feel completely in harmony with themselves and with each other. They all feel exuberantly joyful. PART III 43:06 XI. The Monk’s Sadness Late afternoon. Hours have passed. No sign of the pharmacist, nor of Taro and Jiro. Watching the calm sea now makes the old monk sad. As he is waiting, with the invisible mononoke encircling him, the other two mononoke, too, enter and start dancing around him. The monk can't see them, of course, but he does sense them. He now becomes even more sad. 48:12 XII. The Monk’s Journey Finally, the monk has had enough. He goes on his way to the pharmacist himself. He meets various passers-by and he is being encircled by the three invisible mononoke. Having arrived before Mohej's garden gate, he hears the soft ringing of the wind chimes. He passes through the gate. 49:37 XIII. Finale: Third Dance of Joy To his surprise, he sees both his disciples holding hands with the apothecary, all three happily dancing. The mononoke panic and flee. The monk, meanwhile, is so astonished, that he stands frozen to the ground. But then, listening to the sound of the bells, his sadness vanishes. Hesitatingly, for the first time in his life, he begins to dance. The others gently take him by the hand and invite him to join them. Meanwhile, gradually more and more passers-by enter the garden. They, too, enchanted by the sound of the bells, begin to dance. General dance of joy. 57:06 XIV. Bows ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKr3bsTT49Y

This string quartet has been inspired by Kirgiz folk music. Great performance by the Dutch Raphael Quartet: Ronald Hoogeveen & Rami Koch, violin; Zoltán Benyács, viola; Henk Lambooy, cello I. Allegro energico II Presto volante (starts at 8;12) III Adagio, ma senza rigore (starts at 11;34) IV. Allegretto (starts at 17;53) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuIPLvD3Iq4