Programme Notes
The idea of this composition is “Rebirth”, it is about the creative process of transformation from the initial discovery to the final metamorphosis. As artists, we not only create art products, we are also being created by the artistic process. The rebirth is for the artist.
The composition shares a similar hypothesis of a contemporary Chinese poem “Song of the Stone” written by Chinese Canadian writer Lien Chao. The poet imagines the life of a stone through time and space, the moulding of the stone by nature and humans signifies resurrection: new life and meaning are bestowed to the stone and the creator behind it without destroying its original beauty.
Conceived as a one movement work for mixed Chinese instruments with percussion, clarinet and violin, this work fuses electronics with live performance to unfold illusive images of cosmic nature in the poem. Besides showcasing the virtuosity and expressive quality of both the Chinese and Western instruments, the music has nostalgic references to Chinese Kugu opera and dance traditions from China and ancient Europe. These special music elements are weaved between colorful orchestration and electronic sounds to instigate imaginary scenarios across cultures, time, and space, celebrating human spirit through a poetic journey of progress and variation.
Excerpt from Song of the Stones by Lien Chao
Imagining yourself a story-teller
you revive the stone’s past
as a mountain, as a star
or from the bottom of the ocean
you read ancient elements
mineral, wood, water, fire, soil
the presence of the universe
air, wind, rain, snow, ice
the sun, the moon, the star…
with a Thinker’s intelligence
a farmer’s endurance
a stone carver’s skills
a lover’s passion
you bring out
the original birthmarks of the stone untamed
Composer
Conductor