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Japanese themed songs with text in English.Date: August 24, 2010
I conduct an auditioined 40-voice community choir. We are doing a concert in collaboration with taiko and koto in the spring of '11. We perform literature between 4-14 part (SATB) and I am looking for a few songs in English that are based in Japanese themes. We have five songs in Japanese to learn and I am interested in finding more titles like: Moonlight on Mt. Fuji, A Feast of Lanterns (either on Japanese landmarks or culture) Our themes are nature, flowers and drums.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Replies (5): Threaded | Chronological
Lee Kesselman on August 24, 2010 8:46pm
You might check out my SENSOO (publ by Boosey & Hawkes) for SATB voices with optional bowed crotales. The text is in Japanese, the words were those spoken by Pope John Paul II at Hiroshima. It is a plea for peace, in Japanese. I wrote it after attending the anniversary ceremony at Hiroshima in 2005 (60th anniversary).
Lee Kesselman
Marsha G. Heinzmann on August 26, 2010 5:08am
I meant to add yesterday that J. W. Pepper and other music-related web sites have a number of different arrangements for "Sakura".................
Georgina Philippson on August 27, 2010 6:33pm
I forgot to mention that we are having an arrangement of Sakura commissioned for the choir and our FIFTH SEASON. Couldn't have a concert titled Cherry Blossoms and Beats without an arrangement of Sakura, right!
on August 25, 2010 4:37am
Sakura - it is a well-known and popular song in Japan about the Cherry Blossom. There are many clips on YouTube, and there are many English translations.
Here, it is played on the Koto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Z2bzlS2j8&feature=related
Again, on Koto, with lovely video of the cherry blossom, which is the highest regarded flower of Japan:
Here, with a Japanese school girl choir: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heSMNB4o-Hk
Many years ago, as a child, we had an LP of the Norman Luboff Singers performing songs from around the world. Their rendition was the first time I ever heard Sakura.
Here are the Japanese words and the English translation that I have:
SAKURA, SAKURA
sakura sakura Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms
no-yama mo sato mo on meadow-hills and mountains
mi-watasu kagiri as far as you can see.
kasumi ka kumo ka Is it a mist, or clouds?
asahi ni niou Fragrant in the morning sun
sakura sakura Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms
hana-zakari Flowers in full bloom.
sakura sakura Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms,
yayoi no sora wa across the Spring sky
mi-watasu kagiri as far as you can see.
kasumi ka kumo ka Is it a mist, or clouds?
nioi zo izuru Fragrant in the air.
iza ya iza ya Come now, come,
mi ni yukan let us look, at last!
I hope you will find this useful. I am particularly fond of Japanese culture and this piece has long been a favorite of mine.
Sincerely,
Marsha G. Heinzmann
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