According to the composer, any definition of the word ‘cascade’, if it has some enhancing meaning and is of interest to the performer, or to the listener, is valid. But for Timothy himself, the definition that comes closest to his musical efforts is of something occurring in a succession of events (in this case, musical) – or stages – so that each stage derives from, or acts upon, the product of what has come before.

Cascade was commissioned by Canadian pianist, Margaret Bruce.