Work of the Week - Toru Takemitsu: riverrun

On the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th November, Toru Takemitsu's riverrun for piano and orchestra will be performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in a concert conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado. The performance will recreate the 1985 world premiere with the Los Angeles Philharmonic who commissioned the work joined once again by the original soloist, Peter Serkin to whom the work is dedicated.

The title riverrun comes from the first words of James Joyce's novel "Finnegan's Wake" but also expresses Takemitsu’s attraction to the elements and in particular water which was an inspiration for many of his works.

My music and my life form a unity. I feel myself surrounded by a sort of running stream from which I take out ideas that lead to the creation of a work. (Takemitsu)

Takemitsu's "water pieces" began with water music in 1960 and continued with works like waves (1976), water ways (1978), rain tree (1981), rain spell (1982), rain coming (1982) and, finally, riverrun (1984/85).

The musical language of the piece is more akin to a tone poem rather than a traditional concerto. Wavelike piano cascades are present alongside shifting whole tone string chords and colourful harp textures punctuate the vibraphone, marimba, and xylophone which evoking the qualities of water. Takemitsu is often described as the Japanese Debussy and in riverrun especially he subtly fuses impressionistic qualities with the delicate soundworld of his native country.

• Toru Takemitsu - Profile
  
• Website of the Los Angeles Philharmonic