Haru (Spring, that grasps my heart)

Composer: Nozomi Matsumoto
Lyricist: Minori Minazuki

Words from composer:

This piece was composed as a set piece for the workshop 2014 “Chorus Workshop in Kinokuni” sponsored by the Japan Choral Association. I made this song light three-beat to express the various feelings related to spring in the poem. The chords and keys change quickly to match the diverse emotions and scenes. I hope you will enjoy the changing tonalities and the rhythmic, soft words rhymed in *” Ha/Hi/Fu/He/Ho”. 

When performing, it is good to have a clear image of the colors or atmospheres in each key in the song. There are many “Haru”s and words with the initials “Ha/Hi/Fu/He/Ho” in the poem. It would be interesting for you to try different ways of expressing the same word, such as sharply in staccato, or softly in a long-phrase.

*”Ha/Hi/Fu/He/Ho” are in the same group in the Japanese alphabet.