Japanese Folksongs for the Small Harp contains 23 Japanese folk songs and lullabies taken from folksongs and Koto literature including the popular ?Sakura? transcribed from Kototablature and adapted for the large Lever Harp. The arrangements are appropriate for a smalllever harp with 1 octave below middle C and tuned to Eb or C. Songsin two keys are noted with an * in Contents. Thesongs are very accessible and appropriate for mid-beginner to intermediateplayers with limited or easy lever changes and endeavor to remain true to thesound of the Koto zither. Some of thesongs in the book include both an easy and intermediate arrangement.

Composed in April 2021, Three Folk Songs, are a re-working for folk melodies from the North East of England that explore the combination of folk with jazz and modal harmonies. The first, Waters of Tyne, has a lullaby quality that moves fluidly and dreamily throughout different keys. The second, Blow the Wind Southerly, has a more static harmony allowing the melody to unfold throughout the piece. The third and final movement of the collection, The Keel Row, is a fast dance played out over a repeating ostinato.

The piece was originally composed for vibraphone for Japanese percussionist, Mizuki Aita, and later transcribed for solo piano.

Sakura Sakura ("Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms"), also known as Sakura, is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting spring, the season of cherry blossoms. Contrary to popular belief, the song did not originate in ancient times; it was a popular, urban melody of the Edo period and was adopted as a piece for beginning koto students in the Tokyo Academy of Music Collection of Japanese Koto Music issued in 1888 (in English) by the Department of Education. The song has been popular since the Meiji period, and the lyrics in their present form were attached then. It is often sung in international settings as a song representative of Japan. This setting for SATB or AATB Saxophone Quartet serves as a relaxing, contrasting recital piece. The duration is 4:38. Please contact me at james.pybus@rogers.com.

A quiet, reflective setting for piano of the beautiful Japanese folk song, "Sakura", which is about cherry blossoms. This is probably the most well-known Japanese folk song, and is often sung by children around the world.