Jon Lin Chua: Reminiscences of Yuan Xiao

Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra, Turning Point Ensemble / Chih-Sheng Chen / National Recital Hall, Taipei, Taiwan 2019.12.11

Inspired by the famous traditional nanyin piece “Yuan Xiao Shi Wu” (Lantern Festival) which relates the tragic love story of Chen San and Wu Niang, “Reminiscences of Yuan Xiao” was envisioned as an abstract re-creation of the original piece. “Reminiscences” draws upon not only the pitch material, melodic, and gestural features of the original piece, but also the heterophonic texture and the pacing characteristic of nanyin vocal music in general, as well as certain structural features of the tune. This re-creation of the original tune also attempts to engage with the meaning of the text at various points within the piece. The work as a whole represents a contemporary reinterpretation of an ancient piece.

~ Jon Lin Chua