Scoring: Piano solo
Date: 2023A three-minute piano solo inspired by the classic Japanese haiku by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694):
Furu ike ya
kawasu tobikomu
mizu no oto
("Old pond;
frog jumps in;
sound of water.")
The world is here experienced through the senses of the frog! In the extended initial section of the piece the ancient pond's ripples and shimmering reflections in the water are heard, creating an atmosphere of deep calm and quiet meditation. After a while the frog begins its preparation for jumping: barely detectable vibrations become more and more apparent within the pond's ongoing ripples. Suddenly the frog tenses its muscles and leaps into the air. After a moment of expectant silence the frog hits the water with an enormous splash. The displaced water then also rises up and crashes down in a cascade of colour and noise. It takes some time for the sound of the upheaval to dissipate, but eventually the familiar ripples become apparent once again and the pond returns to its original serenity and timelessness.
This composition is intended to be relatively easy to perform. It was written in response to a challenge set by Haruko Seki at Morley College, London, to write a piece based on a haiku for her piano students in Japan. My thanks go to her for suggesting it!
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