A Song of Circles and Triangles

Takemitsu's title for this choral arrangement from 1984 includes the figures for a circle and triangle. The original text and music were written for the 1961 film 'Bad Boys' (Furyo Shonen) for which the composer also created a guitar duet, published under the movie's title, around a modal theme with many variations. The three verses of 'A Song of Circles and Triangles' occupy little more than a minute's duration.

The lilting melody is first sung in unison to a curious text written by the composer with touches of surrealism: 'The earth is round, I tell you. The apple is red, I tell you. The desert is big, I tell you. I'm telling you, the pyramid is a triangle!' Then the tonal harmonies are added: 'The sky is blue The ocean is deep The earth is round, I'm telling you, it's a little star! The earth is round, I tell you. The apple is red, I tell you. Russia is huge, I tell you. I'm telling you, the balalaika is a triangle!