Nishimura, Yukiko: Cherry Tree

This beautiful ballad was composed to capture the wondrous feeling of cherry blossoms. It also relays elation or hope for a brightening future. The lyrical piece helps players learn the importance of inner melodies, a lighter playing style, staccato figures, and balancing of long phrases. A contrasting middle section includes tempo variations and a delicate balance of harmonic patterns. A return to the calm opening theme ends the composition on a hopeful note. This lovely work will challenge, but also reward your performers.