Emergence
wind ensemble, 9'
(2022)
Emergence is a natural phenomenon where complex structures and behaviours spontaneously arise from a collective of relatively simple elements. A lone ant might be insignificant but an ant colony is capable of building magnificent structures as a larger organism. A cell is only capable of accomplishing its relatively simple task but billions of them working together give rise to the intricate human body. Emergence is present anywhere we observe: from atoms to cells, cells to individual bodies, and individual bodies to societies. This idea is the primary inspiration for this piece, in which relatively simple motifs that occur in repetition work together to form more complex structures. I also took the idea of ‘emergence’ in its literal meaning as the action of emerging from something, represented by the recurring scalar ascents and upward-leaping calls. The piece is written during a time when the world is struggling to emerge from a global pandemic. I hope it provides the strength for us to push on, and serves as a reminder that some of the seemingly insignificant things we do are in fact vital for the very existence of our society.
Emergence was commissioned by the National University of Singapore Wind Symphony (NUSWS).
when the mountains sing...
organ, 5'
(2019)
This piece is based on a folk song from Sichuan, China, titled《槐花几时开》(‘when does the huaihua bloom?’). Huaihua is a flower native to many parts of China; for many people it symbolizes purity, beauty, and the desire for true love. The original song depicts a young lady who is in love with an unnamed man, and spends her day waiting for his arrival by the huaihua tree. When her mother asks her what she is looking at, she responses that she is waiting for the huaihua to bloom. I am attracted by the sentimental mood depicted in the song, and as a response, decided to write an organ piece inspired by it. I thought the juxtaposition of the organ, an embodiment of Western musical culture, with a traditional Chinese folk song would be a very interesting idea to explore. Much of the organ’s history and development is closely tied to church tradition in Europe, and Western European Art Music in general. With immense globalization over the past century, composers took interest in non-Western music and began incorporating it in their music. Some of my favorite composers include the minimalists such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass, whose music is strongly influenced by non-Western styles and often blurs the definition of ‘classical music’. In this piece, there are influences of minimalism on its texture: the folk song melody is initially augmented and transformed into a minimalist texture that eventually culminates with a more definitive statement towards the end. With the consistent sixteenth notes and weaving melodies, I tried to portray a sense of longing and hope within the music, similar to the emotions in the original song.
when the mountains sing... was commissioned by the American Guild of Organists.