In Chernigov (Ukraine) Paul van Gulick met the Japanese soprano Kimiko Takya. She studied in Kiev and the conductor Mikola Sukach introduced him to her. Kimiko sung the Stabat Mater in concerts in Chernigov and in Kiev. Paul was impressed by her singing qualities and dedicated three Rilke songs to her: Todes-Erfahrung, Liebes-Lied and Der Schwan. He chose these poems because of the importance of the subjects to everybody’s life. Kimiko also performed these songs during recitals in Tokyo and Kyoto.

For the occasion of the marriage of Kimiko to Denys, Paul composed a wedding song, again using a poem of Rilke.