Sakura

This beautiful traditional Japanese song, also known as Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms, is set here in an Afro-Cuban style. Depicting spring, the melody was adopted as a piece for beginning Koto students in the Tokyo Academy of Music Collection of Japanese Koto Music, issued in 1888. This arrangement features a fresh re-harmonization of the melody, starting with an open-ended and collective rhythm section improvisation in E Phrygian; a great way to set the tone for the song. Ample solo opportunities are provided in both the trumpet and optional guitar parts with harmon muted passages adding to the color. All piano montunos and bass tumbaos are notated to ensure an authentic feel, and chord symbols are indicated for more advanced players who already have a concept of playing the Afro-Cuban style and wish to 'spread out.' While the arrangement calls for electric bass, an acoustic bass could be used instead. Sakura weighs in at about five to six minutes. Trumpet range: G5. No doubles. Scored for A,T,B, 2 Trpts, 1 Bone, G,P,B,D. Medium.