orchestra

00:00 I. Once Upon a Time 塵封的故事

02:55 II. Running in the Woods 穿梭在山林間

09:00 III. Dawning Twilight 夜幕下的一縷晨曦

❖ Program Note

Hakka Tales for orchestra is in three movements: I. Once Upon a Time,  II. Running in the Woods, III. Dawning Twilight, and is approximately 15 minutes in length. It is inspired by my observations and reflections on the culture, history, and language of the Hakka people.

The first movement, Once Upon a Time, begins with the xylophone playing in the extreme high register mimicking a hammering sound. It is used throughout the entire movement, metaphorically reflecting the early Hakka immigrants' hard work ethic as they carved out a life around the world. The second movement, Running in the Woods, gives a sensation of people striving to survive in the deep forest and mountain regions. Unfolding in this movement is a scene depicting fighting, frantic running and escaping. This scene reflects the story of the Hakka people’s struggle to keep their families and culture intact in the face of outside pressures. However, life must continue and will continue. The third movement, Dawning Twilight, gives the sense of hope. With hope and faith, we move forward confidently. 

A descendent on my mother's side, I am proud to be a Hakka.  I envision this work, Hakka Tales, to connect and share the Hakka spirit with not only our local communities but with communities around the world. 

⟪客家故事⟫由三首樂曲組成，分別是「塵封的故事」、「穿梭在山林間」、「夜幕下的一縷晨曦」，一共約15分鐘。這首作品的發想題材來自於對客家族群和客家精神的觀察與反思，包含了對其歷史，人文，文化，和語言上的種種觀察。「塵封的故事」，此曲以高音木琴貫穿，彷彿從時間軌跡裡，遙遠的一端，傳來鐵鎚敲擊的聲音，描寫早期客家子弟，飄洋過海，到世界各地的辛苦奮鬥史。「穿梭在山林間」用快速音群和不穩定的和聲變化，訴說著早期客家子民被迫在地理位置上不停移動，透過不斷的遷徙移居，與當地人協調或對抗，盼望建立一個安居樂業的家園。卻常被視為外來的暫居人、客人。往往，為了融入當地社會，不得不對自身的客家身份而噤聲...黑夜過後，太陽會升起，「夜幕下的一縷晨曦」由衷的訴說此意念。近年來，客家意識抬頭，客家族群不僅僅在台灣是個為數眾多的族群，在全世界也分佈甚廣。然而不管是在歷史上或社會文化上，常常被賦予了一層神秘的面紗，身為半個客家後代的我，希望能透過「音樂」這個全人類共同的語言，用音符和節奏的感染力，與全世界在音樂裡接軌，傳達客家人的精神，再度認識客家！

• Instrumentation: 3222.4231/timp.2 per./strings

❖ Duration: 15-16 minutes

❖ Program Note

The composition process ebbs and flows much like a river, at times peaceful and calm and other times an uncontrollable raging force.  Whereas Mother Nature is the driving force behind the flowing river, relationships with our friends and family greatly influence the direction of a musical work. Love shines crystal bright and warms our lives. However, when broken, it leads to a dark and painful place one never expects. 

對我來說，作曲的過程就像是流動的河水一般，有時湍急，有時平靜，有些時候更是驚濤駭浪，令人無法駕馭。然而，啓動這股創作泉源的內在力量，則是源自於對周遭的觀察與衝撞，特別是人與人之間各式各樣並且盤根錯節的情感關係。這首作品⟪是璀璨，也是殞滅⟫即是以這樣的出發點為創作主軸。一段情感關係，可以像是光彩奪目、結晶完美的水晶，為我們的人生點綴亮麗，進而展現璀璨光芒，但是，當它破碎或是消失的時候，卻也帶給我們無比的痛楚和落寞。

• Instrumentation: 3333.4331/timp.3 per.harp/strings

❖ Duration: 8 minutes

❖ Program Note

Chasing the Sun for chamber orchestra draws it inspiration from nature and the energy source that sustains all life on our planet, the sun. Its radiant light begins and ends both day and night defining time and providing necessary nourishment. With this in mind, I contemplated what sustains and provides energy in my life? What keeps the wheels moving forward? What inspires and nourishes a wandering heart?

When I pondered these questions, a childhood story told to me by my parents in Taiwan came to mind. “ Kua Fu” is one of the earliest known myths. In Chinese mythology Kua Fu was a giant who wished to capture the sun. He was tall and strong with two yellow snakes hanging from his ears. 

One day out of the blue, he became perplexed by the Sun’s whereabouts at night and decided to chase and catch the sun. With each stride Kua Fu makes progress and slowly gets closer to the sun. He followed the sun from the east to the west. As he closed in on the daystar all the rivers and lakes that crossed his path were drained to quench his burning thirst. In the end the chase proved futile and he died in his impossible quest succumbing to extreme heat and exhaustion. Although Kua Fu failed, the story of his failed quest has inspired many people to be patient and not to overestimate their abilities when chasing their own imaginary suns. 

The sun nurtures the Earth; a dream feeds a starving soul. 

• Instrumentation: 2222.2210/timp.1 per./strings

❖ Duration: 6 minutes

❖ Program Note

Inspired by the music and culture of the Saisiyats, an indigenous people of Taiwan, this orchestra work A Lasting Bond was commissioned and supported by the Council of Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan and Taiwan Philharmonic (NSO).

While researching the Saisiyats, I became deeply moved by their cultural and historical development. The Saisiyats are one of the smallest aboriginal groups in Taiwan. Over the years their population has shrunk even further due to the expansion of other tribes and intrusions of various authorities. However, through it all they managed to develop and establish a strong sense of self-identity and cultural preservation. 

The Saisiyat people use folksong to pass on their traditional values to the next generation. These folksongs have not only become a great vehicle to remind the younger Saisiyat of their ancestral wisdom and heritage, but also a way for other cultures to understand their society. While composing this commission, I used and developed melodic fragments from two Saisiyat folksongs, Hunting Song and Song of Fear. These two folksongs are very representative of the pride and steadfastness of the Saisiyat. Hopefully, A Lasting Bond, in its development will serve and give homage to this great, everlasting culture. 

作品⟪不朽的傳承⟫是受國家表演藝術中心國家交響樂團之邀，由原住民族委員會委託創作，以賽夏族為主題而譜寫的一首管弦樂作品。

在寫下任何一個音符之前，我研讀了關於賽夏族的資料和書籍，深深地被其族群的社會文化脈絡以及歷史軌跡吸引著。賽夏族是屬於台灣原住民中的小族群，長期在外來壓力的影響之下，不斷的遷徙移動，也因此凝聚出一股獨特強勁的族群意識和文化意象。

賽夏族的歌謠，很多是關係著祖先智慧文化的傳承，透過歌謠傳唱，呈現與自我族群歷史文化的連結。其中賽夏族的兩首傳統歌謠「打獵歌」、「恐懼之歌」特別給了我很深刻的感動，其旋律成為本作品的發想題材。對我而言，音樂是個超越時間和語言的媒介，希望能透過這首作品的音樂描寫，在時間的軌跡裡，一起見證賽夏族不朽的歷史文化傳承與強健的內在生命力！

• Instrumentation: 3333.4331/timp.3 per.harp/strings

❖ Duration: 7 minutes

❖ Duration: 6 minutes

❖ Duration: 11 minutes