Unrequited Love(SATB)

Composer: Takatomi Nobunaga
Words from composer

Kitahara Hakushu (1885–1942) is one of the most prominent poets in modern Japan. In addition to poetry, he produced a vast body of work including tanka (short poems) and nursery rhymes (doyo) and folk songs. This piece, “Katakoi” (Unrequited Love), was written in the autumn of 1909 and belongs to Hakushu’s early period. Hakushu himself stated, “This kouta (short song) completely transformed my poetic style,” indicating that the poem was composed with a strong consciousness of musicality. Written entirely in the 5-7-5 syllable structure, it evokes the popular folk songs of that era.
During this period, Hakushu’s style reached the pinnacle of sensual beauty, and “Katakoi” can be considered a symbolic work of that phase. The poem is written in highly metaphorical language, with the protagonist’s inner state visible through the veil of aesthetic imagery.
The musical composition utilizes recurring modulations to illustrate shifting colors. Within the sound, I have endeavored to allow a faint, oriental fragrance to drift through.