Product Description
TANKA is similar to my earlier work THREE HAIKU, in that it uses a Japanese poetic form to
determine structure. The English form of tanka typically has 31 syllables distributed over five lines
in the pattern 5-7-5-7-7. The final two lines are often considered the "turn" (similar to that in a
sonnet), where the subject matter or mood changes the meaning of the preceding lines. In this
piece, the melodic material projects 31 sonorities, divided into five large sections. The first three
sections feature disjunct and declamatory gestures, while the final two sections (after the "turn")
feature more continuous and running gestures. This piece exists in versions for cello and viola.
This work is quite aggressive and challenging, with a broad pitch range and many meter changes.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.