One of the most well-known traditional Japanese melodies, Sakura Sakura has become a musical symbol of Japan around the world. I lived in Tokyo from 1989-2013, and witnessed the exquisite, bitter-sweet beauty of cherry blossom season for many years.

Regarding musical materials, I used a combination of several approaches to minor modality in this arrangement: the Japanese Hirajoshi scale upon which the melody is based (1-2-3-5-6 of natural minor), the dorian mode (natural minor with raised 6), and natural minor. There are also passages of improvisatory character, and flourishes reminiscent of Japanese koto.

— Bruce Stark