Admiring Yoro Waterfall (harpsichord version)

Notes

Admiring Yoro Waterfall was originally commissioned by Sophie Yates for performance on the virginals and was first played at the Corsham Festival in 2001. Although it has also been performed on the clavichord (notably by Paul Simmonds) it has mostly been played by harpsichordists, featuring in concerts in many different countries. Performers have included Assi Karttunen, Mahan Esfahani, Jory Vinikour, Jane Chapman, Marie van Rhijn, Edyta Lajdorf, Hélène Diot, Irene Müller-Glasewald, and Yonit Lea Kosovske. The piece was a prizewinner in the Aliénor Harpsichord Competition and was used as a test piece in the 2016 Jurow International Harpsichord Competition.

Admiring Yoro Waterfall takes its title from a woodblock print of the same name by Hokusai. The music begins by sketching in aspects of the print and then the sound of the waterfall gradually enters into perception before dying away again at the end.

There is a recording by Assi Karttunen on the Divine Art label.