Description

Lyrics: Emperor Sutoku (1119-1164)
Music: Ruth Morris Gray
Format: Choral Octavo
Voicing: 3pt Mixed with Piano (SoundTrax accompaniment CD available separately)
The text of this multicultural feature is a waka (an ancient Japanese poetic form) written by 12th-century ruler Emperor Sutoku. Ruth Morris Gray’s original music highlights the poem’s depth and explores its theme of separation. Crafted with two minor-key melodies (one sung in Japanese, the other in English) that artfully intertwine at the pinnacle moment. A pronunciation guide is included in the publication.