Programme Notes
Beyond the White Clouds is a pipa concerto inspired by the picturesque poem of Wang Wei:
The cold river spreads boundless away.
Autumn rains darken azure-deep skies.
You ask about Whole-South Mountain:
mind knows far beyond white clouds.
At one level the piece merely dramatizes the poem and depicts its scenery. At another level, it paints an enigmatic utopia beyond the white clouds of less tantalizing every day realities. The dramatic competition between the soloist and the orchestra emphasizes this paradox.
Composer
Conductor