For mixed choir a cappella.
This collection, named Grass for a Pillow, takes five of Bashō’s well and lesser known poems and sets them to music for mixed choir a cappella. Each piece expresses some of the many possible meanings a haiku can offer, while trying to imagine the different feeling they might provoke to various listeners and readers. Simultaneously, it’s also a very personal musical rendition. This is the order of the pieces:
I. furu ike ya (an old pond / 古池や) [1’45’’]
II. kare eda ni (on a withered branch / 枯れ枝に) [2’25’’]
III. natsugusa ya (the summer grass / 夏草や) [4’30’’]
IV. kono michi ya (this road / この道や) [2’00’’]
V. ara umi ya (the rough sea / 荒海や) [2’25’’]
The haiku are set in an order in which I expect that the uniqueness of each piece can be most optimally. In addition, haiku I and V are water-themed, II and IV autumn-themed and III is the centrepiece to reflect on previous songs and look forward to the next ones. Performing the entire collection will last approximately 14 minutes.
Enjoy singing Grass for a Pillow! Purchase the score here!
Maurick Reuser, 8 December 2021