(wind band 2007) [6'11"]
This piece was world-premiered at the Kaohsiung Culture
Center in Taiwan on January 6, 2007. It was performed by the
Navy Band, with Prof. Lian-Chang Kuo conducting.
Program notes
This music is consisted of three sections: 1) Impending
Danger, 2) Voyage Through Troubled Waters, and 3) Strength and
Spirits. It describes the journey of a Naval battleship
breaking away from dangerous circumstances and navigating
through challenging encounters. The music concludes with brass
instruments and drums in concert, symbolizing the victorious
return of the battleship with strength and spirits.
The first section is an attempt of the composer to capture
the feelings of unease and unpredictability. Using modern
composition skills, unconventional performing techniques and
experimental combinations of instruments, an atmosphere is
created for the audience to experience the capricious and
unstable emotion. It exhibits a devious, mysterious, and
furtive style. The interaction among tone, dynamics and
texture achieves a dramaturgic musical tension. The musical
structure in this section is based on kinetic connection of a
serious of static notes. By contrast, the second and third
sections are based on relations and transitions among the
different keys. The melody unleashes swiftly, without sharp
contrast, without hindrance. The mutual complement between
brass and percussion opens a broad scene of excitement and
enthusiasm. Converging to a rhythmic and vivid mood, the music
ends with high spirits and full of self-confidence.
This music was a commissioned work for the Navy Band of the
Republic of China in 2007.