Today’s Video of the Day is a performance of Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade’s ‘Études for Piano and Flower Pots: II. Vivacious’ by pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu and percussionist James Larter. The recording can be found on Fu’s new album Colouring Book which is released on 28 March on Platoon.

At the core of this album is the étude where it is presented as a vehicle for creative innovation and exploration. The album features Claude Debussy’s complete 12 Études, alongside Études by contemporary composers Matthew Aucoin and Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade, as well as passacaglia on a theme by Radiohead, written by Fu himself.

Fu reflects: ‘The decision to present these works alongside Debussy’s complete set felt completely natural—in fact, placing them between his two books of études provides interesting context for both the modern and the old. Around a century ago, Debussy, following Chopin’s framework of the étude, infused it with a bit of himself to create something new. Matthew, Ninfea, and I are all attempting the same thing in the present day. That seems to be the sign of a healthy tradition, and I hope it’s one that will persist long after my time.’

Album here