Land of the Castles, 2222 3221 2 perc. Orchestra
The legend of the Four Blood Bars is epic. A knight dips his hand in the blood of his wounds. He wipes his fingers on his golden shield. He says something like: let this be your coat of arms in the future. Such was their hard-won victory. That’s the way they say the flag of Aragon and Catalonia was born. This music is about the land of castles, Catalonia.
I've been there many times.
It’s a land where castles dot pristine, nearly-untouched mountains. When Americans think of castles, they think about Cinderella’s castle. In Catalonia, castles are often big stone buildings on prominent hills where troops were garrisoned. What strikes me is how austere and roughly hewn these castles are. They aren’t there to be pretty; they are there to watch for invaders in a vast, remote wilderness. Chivalry seems to be glowing in these buildings of brutal, primitive, almost-blind honor and glory. There is brutal, survivor-practicality in these buildings. It’s not art, it’s swords and shields, and hard-won victories! That’s how I feel as a composer. Bon cop de falç! 2nd movement of my Saga Symphony.
10 Billion Tears, 2222 3221 2 perc. Orchestra
Imagine there’s a disease that’s making everyone sick. People die soon after contracting the disease. You do not understand how diseases are spread. You are terrified. The world seems to be spinning out of control.
One of the most frightening historical events was the Plague of Justinian in 541 AD. Millions of people died.
At the same time as the plague, there were attempts to bring the Roman Empire back to its former glory. Just when order might have been established, the plague came. Now there was no chance that peace could come.
Imagine you were a peasant. You had two ways to perish: by the sword, or by the plague.
You beg the heavens and earth to help you. There seems to be no hope in sight.
Here’s the ironic twist. You survive war, you survive a pandemic; you overcome. You make it. But you will never be the same.
10 Billion Tears conveys in a more general sense, the senseless, ignorant, tragedies that happen worldwide and undermine humanity. The number 10 billion represents every human on earth. Everyone should mourn for the unfilled dreams quashed by tragedy.
10 Billion Tears is the first episode in my Saga Symphony, a symphony that features snapshots in ancient and medieval life.
The Velveteen Rabbit, Horn Flute, Piano (2022)
This work is about the power of love and unselfishness to make life real. In our "me" culture, it's the furthest thing on the minds of people. The story of the velveteen rabbit is that even though you don't have to have every gift, you can be real if you sacrifice your time for the benefit of others. Commissioned by TriaCorda.
Magic Forest Light (2024)
This was a turning point. It was like I had been resurrected as an artist. I was writing the music that I had wanted to write all along. That was the music of inspiration, joy, happiness. I had finally unshackled myself from the fake objectivity around me. The ability to express feelings are what separate us from the rest of world. Perhaps this music is a reflection of finally having enough: enough resentment, enough suffering. Here are some samples of the music:
Unicorn Garden (2023)
Unicorn Garden reflects my inner feelings of the past few years.
Being married has changed me. I'm happier. I'm more confident. In my album cover, the classic image of the caged unicorn is freed. Yes. This album is all about artistic freedom.
ALSO THIS:
My composition teacher in my undergraduate was angry when I wrote an entire string quartet in a slow tempo.
Recently, I thought I would write an entire album at a slow tempo. This is the sort of music that the "bells and whistles" composition scene of academia doesn't like. And I don't care. And my audience doesn't care either.
I hope you will enjoy my 45 minutes of peace. Here's are some samples of the work.
