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This is a Jiuta piece in the Tegotomono style from the Ikuta Ryű school . This piece was composed for koto by Mitsuzaki Kengyo . This piece was composed for shamisen by Mitsuzaki Kengyo .

Poem (translated by Tedford, John)
Maeuta:

Fresh and brilliant [1],
Spring has come
and the ice begins to melt.
The cherry blossoms
grow thick on the bough
like the white-capped waves
which gather in the shoals
of Ukishima [2]
rising through the mist.

TEGOTO

Atouta:

Truly it is a wonderful sight!
Even now,
this Spring remains unchanged
from those of ancient times;
the beauty of the blossoms
reflects in pure, untainted waters --
the River Sakura [3].


[1] Aratama is a "pillow word" (i.e. poetic images always used together in classical Japanese poetry) always attached to Spring; it means 'new jewel" and implies rough, unpolished luster.
[2] Place near mouth of Sakura River.
[3] The "cherry" river in Ibaraki Prefecture north of Tokyo.

Sakura Gawa appears on the following albums:

Album	Shakuhachi	Koto	Shamisen
Abe Keiko Record Set - 08  (Listen)		Yes	Fujii Kunie
Classical Ensemble Music Vol 3  (Listen)	Kitahara Kozan II	Yes	Yes
Performance with voice, shamisen, koto and shakuhachi. The original piece, not including shakuhachi, was composed in 1930's by Mitsuzaki Kengyo, who is more famous for the fact that he composed pieces in new styles for only voice and koto, which were so-to-speak revolutionary attempts in those days when the koto was regarded as a subordinate instrument to shamisen music. This piece is exceptional among those pieces in the same style, in respect that both shamisen and koto part were composed by the same person. Consequently, it has more heterophonic character as compared with other pieces. The poem is a description of the scenery of the river called Sakuragawa (sakura = cherry, ogawa or kawa = river) which is famous for cherry-blossoms, and the music has a comparatively gay feeling. The piece consists of a short introduction, a fore-song, an instrumental interlude and an after-song.
Seiha Hogakkai Play Favorites 04 - Mitsuzaki Kengyo  (Listen)
Sokyoku Jiuta Taikei 35  (Listen)			Sato Chikaki