Flowing Water Study II
for chamber orchestra, with live video
(2011)
- Duration 8'
- Instrumentation flute (doubling alto flute), oboe, clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, 2 percussionists, piano/celesta, harp, strings: violin I (6 players), violin II (5), viola (4), cello (3), bass (2)
- Commission
and Premiere Commissioned and premiered by the American Composers Orchestra, conducted by George Manahan. October 14, 2011, Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York. Live video by Daniel Iglesia.
Excerpt from the premiere
Program Notes
Bo Ya always played the Qin in the mountains by himself. One day, the woodcutter Zi Qi came by quietly, stopped and listened. Without words, he comprehended the music. It was about the flowing of water. From that time on, Bo Ya played for him in the mountains, until Zi Qi suddenly passed away. Bo Ya could not bear the loss of his only soul mate, so he threw his Qin off the cliff, never to play again.
Flowing Water is the tune from this story of deep understanding between friends from over two thousand years ago. There have been innumerous interpretations of it ever since. Different possibilities regarding the touching of strings, ornamentation of lines, variation of rhythms and even the form have made it a unique piece with which composers and performers can explore their own musical imagination.
Each hand gesture, finger position, nail noise, and breath in Qin playing relates to poetic images and ideas from nature. Notation in traditional Qin scores allows for the flow of time much more freely than traditional Western notation, and serves not just as an interpretative tool for the performer, but also a representation of a natural or spiritual object. The images contained within a Qin score are as expressive and profound as Chinese calligraphy. Showing these images while performing this piece projects an aesthetic of Qin notation and poetic association to the audience. With the hope to approach mythical communication through music, this Flowing Water Study is my humble attempt to get to know the ancient musical tradition.
– Wang Lu
