Cherry Blossoms
From Plank Road Publishing
by Karl Hitzemann
The cherry trees along the shore of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., were a gift from Japan in 1912. The song "Cherry Blossoms" celebrates that gift. It has a distinct Japanese feel to it, and sounds sweet and haunting at the same time - which depicts the beautiful, but brief time that the trees are in bloom. While the melody for "Cherry Blossoms" is original, some of the lyrics come from the well-known Japanese folk song, "Sakura, Sakura." ("Sakura" is Japanese for "cherry blossom.") This is an excellent opportunity for a cross-curricular experience with the other teachers at your school. Whether you're studying Japan, Japanese culture, folk songs, Washington D.C., or just celebrating spring, this song will fit in nicely. (from Music K-8, Vol. 22, No. 4)
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