Land of the Lustrous (Houseki no Kuni) OST Piano Medley

This was a very, very long time in the making.
Table of contents:
00:00 Main Theme
01:47 Phosphophyllite
03:05 Cinnabar
04:07 What is This!
04:59 Awakening Power
07:04 Deep in the Sea
08:38 Ventricosus
09:59 Isolation
11:25 Breaking
13:08 Loss
13:33 Ice Floe
13:53 Unreachable
15:35 liquescimus
16:48 The End of Winter
17:48 Decision
18:48 Memories
20:44 Phos and Cinnabar
23:37 Waves in the Mirror (Kyoumen no Nami) Orchestral Ver.
I have a handful of projects that haunt me for literal years until I complete them. This is one of them. I believe I must have first attempted it about 5 years ago, and I gave up on it pretty quickly, even though I loved the soundtracks so much. It was too difficult for me at the time.
Now fast forward to November 2023 when I finally decided I’d sit down and write the medley for real this time, encouraged that I now had some more transcribing experience under my belt and have done similar projects (like Rebellion!). I dug up my first transcriptions and they were terrible LOL so I started everything from scratch.
Two weeks later I had something I could play off of. Suddenly, I found I could hear those tricky harmonies much better, and the layers too! Progress is a wondrous thing. I recorded Kyoumen no Nami a few years ago and working on it again for this medley I realized I straight up misheard some harmonies then.
I have to say though, this might be one of the most difficult medleys I’ve done. Actually, it might be the most difficult one. It took me 4 months to learn and I still find some bits super hard - the larger part that starts at 1:58 is already very tricky, it took me forever. 5:00 - ALL of Awakening Power is ridiculous, 7:21 Deep in the Sea has a very tricky right hand, 10:55 is absurdly hard to memorize for some reason and also took me forever, the battle themes, Breaking and Unreachable, are both pretty hard for different reasons, though those were on purpose. I figured I should struggle for the battle themes LOL. Kyoumen no Nami is difficult but I adore it so practicing it was pure joy.
SPECIAL SHOUTOUT to 12:08, if you have an acoustic instrument at home, I cant stress enough how satisfying those left hand jumps/chords are. They reverberate through your soul and the recording doesn’t do it justice. I love that part.
As for Houseki no Kuni the show - it’s one of my favorites of all time, I don’t think I need to say much here. It’s amazing in every way and I arranged this medley thinking of it very carefully. I’m up to date with the manga (it’s ending next month) and what a ride it’s been.
The video is made out of two major takes I did one after another split and glued together 4 times because this one is just unreasonable to play perfectly until the end with limited recording time. I almost did get a perfect take the first time around, until the second-to-last track when my brain suddenly said, “Actually, you should forget how to read sheet music right about now. I don’t care that you practically know this by heart either.” I kept making such silly mistakes I decided I need a break before continuing lol. The other time dog decided to make noise.
See you next piece!
Music by Yoshiaki Fujisawa
Arranged by me(I’ll share the sheet music soon!)
Shoutout to the commenter who asked why I don't record in 4k. The answer is: because I didn't realize I could. This one's for you.

[@Caliko]

sheet music: musescore.com/user/10978856/scores/17358310

[@angelolima4811]

Thank you

[@angelolima4811]

Could I make a suggestion for a song I think you will love it

[@TheApothecaryGuy]

Thank you so much!

[@dumpling_ssoup]

Thank you so much for your hard work! I'll enjoy playing that a lot :D

[@MarcPlaysPiano]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay I just signed up for musescore for a week so I could download this one...haha. Thank you for all the work it took to make it!

[@ahmedbenlahrech5352]

So glad that this masterpiece of an OST keeps getting covers, from Caliko no less!

[@user-ls6yc8yq6e]

this and the rebellion medly are my go to studying music and my motivation for learning piano now. i really love the way you play. thank you.

[@georgethemonkeydrummer5598]

She did Awakening Power, Breaking and Isolation!!??? That is so cool (probably the first time I’ve seen specific tracks from the ost album receive a cover) I love the soundtrack I’m going to enjoy this on repeat

[@planetary-rendez-vous]

Absolutely insane... As a pianist I know the effort that goes behind this. ❤

[@vitgerivaz]

a 26 minute Houseki no Kuni piano medley? subscribed. As shrimple as that.

[@vitgerivaz]

so nice..... great performance. and great video production, everything looks clean and high quality, and the arrangements are great. Should have 100x more views. You just got a new fan.

[@WalkingNose]

Listening to this while reading the new chapters. I'm crying!

[@johnmichaelarellano9162]

Geez almost half an hour of playing non-stop. I do a 2-minute piece of Claire de Lune and my carpals get sore lol. Great arrangement as always!

[@darkustenebrae4306]

glorious, baeutiful, magnificent. I don't have a word to explain my feeling towards the full medley, its so good, thanks for exist, i'll never forget this feeling.

[@JeanDavidMoisan]

I hope that they'll do a season 2! This anime was so good! It's so cool that you did the music.

[@mimillechan]

Thank you for this cover. It’s perhaps because Houseki no kuni is the show that has marked me the most in my little life, but your cover resonates in me. I can’t explain it but OST affect me even more than usual. So Thank you, the quality of your work that is so impressive, whether it’s your transcription or your performance ✨

[@Caliko]

Thank you! Houseki means a lot to me too.

[@yuhcuh6574]

Im so glad someone did awakening power and deep in the sea. I tried to look for some a couple of months back but found nothing. Houseki no kuni is coming to an end in 16 days I hope we get that season 2 soon 😭

[@koracIes]

a second season would be well deserved for such a beautiful series. i hope you enjoyed the ending

[@yuhcuh6574]

@@koracIes thank you, I enjoyed it a lot, but I'm also feeling kind of empty because there won't be any more land of the lustrous content 🥲

[@koracIes]

@@yuhcuh6574 i feel you 😞 hoping that it gets traction in the near future

[@Bob-yi4pq]

This was amazing! I love the surprise at the end, when it sounds like its gonna be a re-recording of your previous "kyoumen no nami" cover, and suddenly you hit us with all the poly meter goodness. Those rhythms are insane! I cant wait for the sheet music

[@Caliko]

Thank you! I spent so much time re-transcribing Kyoumen no Nami, I just love it way too much. Wanted to do it justice after simplifying it so much in my first cover. I’m working on the sheet music, though it’ll take some time until it’s releasable. Turns out I transcribed it very messily lol

[@onehundredpicks5531]

Thank you! I can be at peace. Slowly losing my hearing now at 24 years old. Keep doing what you are doing.

[@Runningwritingreading]

one of the best chapters came out recently, glad I found your music

[@jiminp4]

can't wait for the sheet music!! I've never seen some of these pieces played (very beautifully as well)

[@Caliko]

took some time, but the sheet music is done!

[@user-kx1xw8lv7y]

いつも素敵な音楽(演奏)を、ありがとう！　遠い日本から応援してます。

[@angelolima4811]

O look a spinning top on the piano is this a dream or reality no one will ever no

[@shadowkyng40]

One of my daughters picked this anime for our movie time. So she knows this well. I'll share it to her, she'll love it.

[@danilkubay7524]

Wow, Caliko, thank you very much for the great music and 4k video resolution, I asked for it!🥰 upd: Damn, I'm really a big fan of yours, I often listen to your covers when I'm walking. And the fact that after my comment under the last video I see a new video with 4K and now I can clearly see the keyboard and the grace of your hands is truly delightful.

[@Caliko]

It's you! Thank you for the comment haha, without it I very simply wouldn't have thought to check if I even could record in 4k! Turns out it was a click away all along!

[@wubbit9124]

this is amazing!!

[@yuniaamaya7472]

😢oh caliko, your medley is making me cry, having on count that manga is ending... 😭🩷 I'm so happy to listen a beautiful medley from my favorite show ♡ Fujisawa has really reaaaaally beautiful compositions, such an amazing man 😭 Thank you so much Caliko, for always give amazing and deep pieces 🪷 be sure that you convey every scene and emotion in the series.

[@MaisieTheGem]

The way you play these pieces really makes me emotional, this is beautiful, I love the houseki osts- ;0;

[@sc-hr8hv]

ahhhh I'm so glad you decided to do a medley for one of my fave shows of all time!! honestly the work that went into the transcription and performance is absoutely insane, thank you so much for the wonderful video and for the lovely send-off to this series!!!

[@usapzjp1922]

GIRL YOU ATE THAT!!!

[@MarkAlphas]

I can't believe you covered this after so many years. Thank you, it's beautiful.

[@angelolima4811]

Hope to see the sheet music on musescore very soon thank you caliko beautiful as always

[@enders263]

Always appreciate your sheets, but I never expected this. One of my favorite OST. Can’t wait to learn this!

[@eline8087]

Thanks for talking about the difficulties and joys you've experienced while making this ^^ and for the upload, of course!

[@mmaloney324]

Beautiful, just 1 thing... Please don't ever stop playing and composing

[@lukilikessayu]

WOOOOOOOoooo caliko upload

[@VinLudens]

Never heard of Houseki no Kuni before but wow did I enjoy your medley! It is definitely palpable how this one was haunting your for years and it is great to see how you ultimately managed to pull off something this majestic! The attention to detail, and how you balance dynamics and intensities is really cool here! Great job once again :D

[@Unhomiee]

Amazing.

[@ayapsycho100]

Thanks a lot for this beautiful cover My fav tracks are Cinnabar, Isolation and Liquescimus

[@paulaugusteofficiel]

So beautiful!!🔥❤️

[@potatotry]

this is amazing! thank you so much for making this medley, I love it a lot! You managed to make it sound almost like the original. I have done transcription before (just a little bit) and I know how hard that is. You must have spent a lot of time and effort on this! Also transcription is one thing, playing it such that it sounds like the original is also an impressive feat!

[@aramkhachaturian8043]

11:26 Very good version of breaking! It is such a brass and texture heavy OST that I was wondering how you would pull it off. Beautiful playing

[@Caliko]

Thank you! I really wanted to do the brass justice somehow. It turned out very satisfying to play!

[@samidejong106]

Cinnabar is one of my favourite melodies in all of anime. Great stuff!

[@alessandrorandazzo6614]

Oh my god, you are amazing!!!

[@Sekaro297]

A very pleasant surprise to wake up to. Thanks, gonna be listening to this a bunch today!

[@aninggga]

Beautiful playing

[@youtubepremium9253]

Good job, you play wonderful

[@Sokhyrr]

lovely musics

[@Fang28]

Loved your cover of Kyoumen no Nami 5 years ago. Excited to learn to play this too!

[@sims2lovealot]

I'm so excited to see some love given to this incredible anime! And wow you did such a wonderful job!

[@angelolima4811]

The piece at the anime full anime feels love it

[@Bak_Sangmin]

Phenomenal as always... I usually don't comment, but along with Made in Abyss and NieR, Houseki no Kuni has some of my favourite soundtracks. Also, your videos have been the source of my motivation to learn piano, so thank you!

[@Caliko]

Thank you for the comment, happy to hear that! Good luck with your playing!

[@MarcPlaysPiano]

Wowwww Land of the Lustrous was an amazing anime (I wish they'd continue it.........), and I've listened to its soundtrack repeatedly. I look forward to listening to this whole thing! Kudos for making it, and for undertaking these monstrously glorious medley projects. Edits: Deep in the Sea...lovely. Kyoumen no Nami -- nice voicing. Overall audio sounded great. Also, I just made another video with ~7 mins of your Made in Abyss medley, because better mics etc.. Thanks again for writing that one!

[@Caliko]

Thank you very much! I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying the Made in Abyss medley :)

[@tew4477]

HOLY SHITT- my reaction

[@Enigmahhh]

Oh I will enjoying this over the next half an hour of studying. Thanks as always for the lovely performance! You inspire me to continue learning piano and I hope one day I can play something remotely as impressive as you!

[@cheshireshadow518]

yes yes YES YEEEESSSS!!! OUGH perfection

[@Caliko]

🥺

[@MadMakishimu]

👏👏👏💎💎💎

[@moonlapsepiano]

OMG💜 This is so amazing, I've been waiting so long to see this. What incredible (and accurate) interpretations of these wonderful tracks. This is absolutely one of my favorite shows ever and you really did it justice. I can't imagine how much work it must have taken to pull this together, performing it after transcribing and arranging it. I just can't believe you gave us 26 minutes lol this is too good. Thank you so much for putting so much time and effort into this unforgettable music, those sheets will be priceless. Highlights: Awakening Power into Deep In the Sea - two of the best songs from this OST imo and you nailed it. Especially the way you captured movement from the strings at 5:53, probably my favorite moment from this video. Isolation - your performance was very poignant and emotional, particularly the big moment at 10:54 Kyoumen no nami Orchestral ver - such a wonderful piece to hear on piano, absolutely perfectly transcribed. Cinnabar - I think this is the most memorable/gets stuck in your head melody from the OST. The performance blew my mind on this one. Anyway, sorry for gushing, but this is incredible, can't wait for what you've got coming next.

[@Caliko]

Thank you so much! Hearing that the interpretations were accurate is the highest praise coming from you, the master of accuracy lol! Awakening Power and Deep in the Sea were some of my favorites too, especially the first one I wanted to do justice. The jumps and the constant right hand movement are brutal though. That bit you marked in Isolation is very very fun to play, I had to pace myself not to hammer away harshly there, even though it did turn out pretty loud. I have to share somewhere what my Kyoumen no Nami sheet looks like because it's absolutely unreadable to anyone but me LOL, I transcribed it twice: first, the orcherstral backing track on its own, then what I would initially transcribe hearing the whole thing. I then learned to play the orchestral backing arrangement, which was already surprisingly hard, and then I pasted the melody over it in musescore (looked very bad) and started the VERY tricky process of making the melody audible on top of the first arrangement. It was a whole process LOL Never be sorry for gushing! Thank you, again!

[@yuhcuh6574]

I thought I was the only one who thought those were the best songs from the ost 😭🙏

[@angelolima4811]

Some parts sound more classical than anime like didnt expect that

[@inspirashamul]

I love this so much! Piano medleys are my bread and butter so it was amazing to hear these tracks that I've listened to countless times in this format. Thank you so much for all the effort. I've been making Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous) videos for the past couple of years and will continue to do so. I was wondering if I could use your music as part of future videos (credit will of course be given when used).

[@Caliko]

Thank you! And sure, you can use my music, tag me in the description if you do so I can watch the video too!

[@inspirashamul]

@@Caliko Will do!

[@SadaBoxall]

hey this is incredible!! looking forward to the sheet music :> ive been trying to get back into piano for a while now, hoping this is what'll do it

[@Caliko]

sheet music done!

[@SadaBoxall]

@@Caliko AMAZINGGG im so excited tyyy :>

[@natonacl4187]

Beautiful! Love that spinning top on your piano. That from Inception?

[@jiaweixu9498]

That's one for work NAOW!

[@Gumayusi1029]

피아노를 못 끊게 만들어😢

[@skeletonboxers7336]

right after Chapter 107 came out and also the announcement that chapter 108 next month will be the end of Houseki no Kuni ; ;

[@vor946]

you should make a playlist with your medleys

[@Caliko]

Good idea! I feel like I wanted to do one a while ago and then forgot, thanks for the reminder

[@dASto371]

yes

[@vanetti8771]

bagus sekali

[@elio564]

Well, that's one for at work tomorrow xD

[@sungvin]

Oh my, I don’t have time to watch this, but I certainly must do it first thing at the evening. Also, kind of interested, what tablet are you using, because I usually read sheet music from a phone and its screen is quite small

[@Caliko]

I got the biggest iPad they sold at the time, though it’s a few years old now! Anything that’s bigger than a phone will probably work well

[@reblazedfyr3146]

Lovely! Can't wait for the sheets. Yoshiaki Fujisawa also created the OST for No Game No Life Zero. Which I think is slightly better than Houseki no Kuni's. Particular the transitions in "I truly love you" are great. Any chance you'll visit them in the future?

[@Caliko]

Oh my, I had no idea Yoshiaki Fujisawa did the No Game No Life Zero OST! I’ll give it a listen.

[@reblazedfyr3146]

@@Caliko It's great; however many of the singular pieces are composed to neatly continue the previous track or kickstart the next. You might want to listen to the OST as a whole. Should be the first hit uploaded by SEIMODO MUSIC

[@angelolima4811]

Could you do a rurouni kenshin medley next that would be amazing thank you so much

[@wojanbrzoza]

the new minecraft music

[@MarcPlaysPiano]

I'm listening to this repeatedly now, haha. My 1.5 year old daughter's favorite from this video is What Is This! -- we were listening to it in the car this week and after that one ended she said, "gen?" (for her that means, "again please".) 😂 P.S. On the subject of "pinky vibrato", which you mentioned in a reply on your Freiren video...I recently went down a rabbit hole for how to create vibrato at the piano, and eventually made this, which you may find amusing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH3Sd3t7fdyChbc

[@Caliko]

Glad your daughter has a favorite! :)

[@aramkhachaturian8043]

Also I still see that you turn pages via your hands, have you ever thought of getting the Bluetooth device that you can just use your foot to tap?

[@Caliko]

I got so used to turning pages by hand but maybe you’re right! I should look into getting one

[@angelolima4811]

No sheets yet

[@Caliko]

sheets done

[@angelolima4811]

@@Caliko could I make a suggestion for a piece I know you will love them, one for anime and one regular thank you caliko your always the best

[@Marokh3]

U r my crush❤