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Commissioned by Anne McAlister for Philip Sawyer. First performance 28 June 2013 in the Westerkerk, Amsterdam, by Philip Sawyer.

  • organ
  • 7 min

Programme Note

Rakugo, or 'fallen words’, is a traditional form of Japanese entertainment performed by a lone, seated storyteller (rakugoka) with very few props, if any at all. The complications of each story – its dramatic arc, characterizations and plot turns – are expressed using extremely minimal means, relying on the verbal talents of the rakugoka to maintain interest. This idea is explored in this work for solo organ: Fallen Words. The piece uses a simple, pedal-like thread from start to finish around which is woven the performer’s ‘story’.

Tarik O’Regan, April 2013

Scores

Score sample

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