Category:
Symphonic / Orchestral
Water is an important metaphor in Dao De Jing to explain the deep meaning of Dao. Water is the essence of “proper way-making” because water is the element of the lowest places.
The orchestration of this composition is a deep symbol for the ambivalence of the element “water”: the two soloists with their sensitive and subtle soundscape are representing the weakness , and the full orchestra is representing the power of the Dao.
Commissioned by HKCO Hongkong Chinese Orchestra with worldpremiere at Hongkong Art Festival 2020.
Movements: 1: “Supreme good is like Water” (Lao Tse)
2: Garden with glittering fountains
3: Buddha Mind – the hidden power of lowest places
4: “Moon over Erquan Springs”
5: Power - the true shape of Water
Duration: 20 Minutes
Instrumentation: Orchestration:
Yangqin (Solo) and Qanun (Solo)
Flöten: Bangdi, Quidi, Xindi
Sheng: Sopran-, Tenor-, Bass-Sheng
Guan: Sopran-, Alt-, Bass-Guan
Plucked instruments:
Yangqin, Pipa 1+2, Zhongruan, Daruan, Zheng
Timpani an Percussion 1-4
1: Dagu (big drum), Muyu (tempelblocks), metal chimes, triangle
2: Xiaogu (small drum), hand cymbals, 3 suspended cymbals, claves
3: Paigu (Tomtoms), Nanbangzi (southern claves), tri angle, hand cymbal, Tubular bells
4: large Tamtam (shared with Perc. III), Shougu (handdrum), Luo (Gong), cymbals, triangle
Large String Orchestra:
GaoHu - ErHu1 - ErHu2 - ZhongHu - Gehu - Bass-Gehu
Introduction: Water is an important metaphor in Dao De Jing to explain the deep meaning of Dao. Lao Tse’s statement “Supreme good is like Water” (Chapter 8) opens the doors to central aspects “of the right way”: weak & soft is getting to hard & strong, water is the essence of “proper way-making” because water is the element of the lowest places.
The famous Chinese tune “Moon reflected on Erquan Ying Yue” is the base of variations in fourth movement. The Melody is composed by the blind Erhu-Player Hua Yanjun (wellknown as A’Bing), who died in 1950 …and leads to the mightiness of “Power – the true shape of water”.
The orchestration of this composition is a deep symbol for the ambivalence of the element “water”: the two soloists with their sensitive and subtle soundscape are representing the weakness , and the full orchestra is representing the power of the Dao.
Dedication: Commissioned by HKCO Hongkong Chinese Orchestra
