The Stonecutter – A Japanese Folktale
CAST
Narrator
Tasaku, the stonecutter
Prince, Musicians, and Dancers
Cherry Blossom Dancers
Cloud Children
Instrument Players
Choir
SCRIPT
NARRATOR: Look into the Rose
For the beauty of the earth
Lies in one petal
CHOIR, ORFF AND RECORDER PLAYERS PERFORM “LOOK INTO THE ROSE”
the mountain.)
NARRATOR: Once long ago, there lived a stonecutter named Tasaku in Japan. Each day Tasaku climbed up the mountain to cut away stone and carve it into statues for his customers. From miles around, you could hear the sound of his hammer and chisel as he chipped away at the base of this great mountain.
INSTRUMENT PLAYERS PERFORM “THE STONECUTTER AT WORK.”
(During “The Stonecutter at Work,” Tasaku pantomimes chiseling movement.)
NARRATOR: Tasaku was content with his life. He was a happy man. He heard stories of a spirit that came down from the mountain and granted wishes. Tasaku took no notice of the stories because he did not wish for anything. This pleased the great spirit that lived within the mountain.
ALL INSTRUMENTS PLAY SPIRIT MOTIF.
NARRATOR: One day, Tasaku took a statue he had carved to a rich man’s house. As he entered the house, he looked around at all the beautiful things the rich man owned. Tasaku wished that he were rich, too.
ALL INSTRUMENTS PLAY SPIRIT MOTIF.
(During “SPIRIT MOTIF”, Tasaku goes behind mountain and puts on a robe representing wealth. He returns to his place in front of the mountain by his home.)
NARRATOR: As soon as Tasaku had made his wish, the great spirit from the mountain granted it! When he got home, his house was much bigger, and it was full of expensive things. Tasaku felt very happy, and he did not have to work anymore.
One morning, the sun was so hot that Tasaku had to stay indoors. As he looked out the window, a magnificent procession passed by. A royal prince, clothed in splendid robes, led a group of musicians and dancers. Tasaku watched.
RECORDER AND ORFF PLAYERS PERFORM “PROCESSION.”
(During “Procession,” the Prince, musicians and dancers enter stage left and exit stage right.)
MOVEMENT: FORMATION – Prince, followed by double row of musicians (10 recorder players), with dancers on either side of musicians.
Prince and musicians walk half note pulse entering stage left and slowly cross to stage right where they exit.
NARRATOR: Tasaku stood silently until the procession had passed long out of sight. “If only I could be a prince,” he thought. The great spirit heard him and granted Tasaku his wish.
INSTRUMENT PLAYERS PERFORM SPIRIT MOTIF.
(During the “SPIRIT MOTIF”, Tasaku moves behind the mountain screen to put on a robe representing royalty. He returns to his place in front of the mountain.)
NARRATOR: Tasaku was very pleased to become a prince. He enjoyed his new found wealth and life of leisure. Each morning he would sit in his garden among the beautiful flowers and blossoms.
(Cherry blossom dancers (8) enter stage left to form a straight line in front of Tasaku. They kneel with palms together.)
CHOIR AND INSTRUMENT PLAYERS PERFORM “SAKURA”
NARRATOR: But the afternoon Sun withered the blossoms.
(During the SUN MOTIF, the Cherry Blossom Dancers wither – palms and head touch floor)
INSTRUMENT PLAYERS PERFORM SUN MOTIF.
NARRATOR: Tasaku felt the great strength of the sun. “If only I could be the sun,” he thought. The great spirit heard him and granted Tasaku his wish.
(During the SPIRIT MOTIF the Cherry Blossom Dancers exit and Tasaku moves behind the mountain and replaces the royal robe with a robe representing the sun. He returns to his place in front of the mountain.)
INSTURMENT PLAYERS PERFORM SPIRIT MOTIF.
NARRATOR: Tasaku was very pleased to be the sun. And to show his great power, he burned the fields and scorched the land. He created a great drought.
INSTRUMENT PLAYERS PERFORM SUN MOTIF.
NARRATOR: The people prayed for rain. And soon a cloud came over and covered the sun.
(The Cloud Children (4), carrying long, narrow pieces of blue fabric enter stage left and cross in front of Tasaku. During the “Cloud Theme,” they raise and lower the fabric in a wave-like effect.)
ORFF PLAYERS PERFORM “CLOUD THEME”
NARRATOR: Tasaku saw the power of the cloud. “If only I were a cloud,” he thought. The great spirit heard him and once again granted Tasaku’s wish.
ORFF PLAYERS PERFORM “SPIRIT MOTIF”
(During the “SPIRIT MOTIF”, Tasaku moves behind the mountain and replaces the sun robe with one to represent the cloud. He returns to his place in front of the mountain.)
Narrator: Tasaku was pleased to be the cloud. He realized with this new power he could create rain.
(Instrument players improvise a gentle rain, i.e. glockenspiels, chimes, hand drums. As narration continues, instrument players create a more violent storm, i.e., thunder tube, cymbals, lights flickering. Cloud children continue to wave fabric.)
Narrator: But the gentle rain was not enough. Tasaku enjoyed making the skies flash with lightning and crash with thunder. He caused furious storms. Soon rivers overflowed, and villages were destroyed and washed away.
(The storm gradually fades.)
Narrator: But the great mountain remained. Tasaku saw the mountain‘s strength and wished to be changed into a mountain. The spirit heard him and obeyed, but withdrew for there was nothing more he could do.
ORFF PLAYERS PERFORM “SPIRIT MOTIF”
(During the “SPIRIT MOTIF”, Tasaku once again moves behind the mountain but this time stays there.)
Narrator: Tasaku was pleased to be the great mountain. Now he knew he was greater and more powerful than the prince, the sun and the cloud. But one day, Tasaku stopped to listen. (PAUSE) He heard the faint sound of a hammer and a chisel at his feet.
INSTRUMENT PLAYERS PERFORM “THE STONECUTTER AT WORK.”
Narrator: Tasaku realized the mountain was not the most powerful,,, and he trembled. Tasaku wished he were a stonecutter.
ORFF PLAYERS PERFORM “SPIRIT MOTIF”
(During “SPIRIT MOTIF”, Tasaku changes back into original robe.)
Narrator: The spirit granted his wish and Tasaku was a stonecutter once more. He worked hard, and his life was simple. But Tasaku was happy, and he never wished for anything ever again!
CHOIR, ORFF AND RECORDER PLAYERS PERFORM “LOOK INTO THE ROSE”
THE END