The melody of this processional is from a famous Japanese song Hana ("Flower") by Rentaro Taki (1879-1903), which represents the beauty of spring in Japan.
The original meaning of the word processional is a chant, hymn or other music sung during the Procession, usually at the start of a religious service. The noble march-like music used for entering and exiting a ceremony are also known as processional/recessional. As I thought of various ceremonial situations and their needs, I have decided to provide a broad tempo marking. For graduation ceremony procession, I felt a slower tempo is more desirable, where as a faster tempo is more suitable for school entrance ceremony. Considering the notability of the song, this piece is also suitable as background music. When using as a BGM, tacet the snare drum from A to C. As the melody of Hana is repeated three times, the music becomes increasingly more lively. Another melody representative of spring subtly appears at F. It is Haru no Ogawa (Whisper, Whisper Little Stream).

Rehearsal Note:

This is in flexible instrumentation. There are six parts of specified instruments. Part assignment depends heavily on each ensemble's make-up, sound goal and situation.
In order to perform with diverse timbres, I have offered performance advice in some sections, if doable by your band program.
For Parts 1 and 2 at F, if trumpets are used, they are tacet, and if there are multiple flutes, limit to only one. Although glockenspiel is optional, adding this part will be musically more effective.

(Yo Goto)