Audio Sample
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From the CD Instrumental music |
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Work Overview
Poems of a Bright Moon was inspired by the Hsiang-Yang
Songs of Li Po, an 8th-century Chinese poet of the T'ang Dynasty
(ca.618-906 A.D.). On a visit to New Mexico in the United States,
the discovery of the poet William Carlos Williams and the art
work of Georgia O'Keeffe led to the poetry of Li Po, which
conjures up visions of mountains and rivers, also very much part
of the New Mexico landscape. Li Po was something of a
mischievous travelling minstrel and liked to indulge in the
drink. A legend says that "while out drunk in a boat, he fell
into a river and drowned trying to embrace the moon." The moon
appears in over a third of his poems, and the opportunity to
combine Li Po's images of moonlight with the rich dark tones of
the alto flute was irresistible. The individual titles of the
movements of this piece come directly from the poems, and the
music attempts to evoke the spirit of the titles: "Hsien mountain
rises above emerald Han river," "On a moonlit night, a recluse
plays his pale white ch'in" and "A pure tenthousand-mile wind
arrives."
Work Details
Year: 2000
Instrumentation: Flute/alto flute, clarinet in B flat, piano.
Duration: 11 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Contents note: I. Hsien mountain rises above emerald Han river -- II. On a moonlit night, a recluse plays his pale white ch'in -- III. A pure ten-thousand-mile wind arrives.
Commission note: Commissioned by Ethos trio with funds provided by Creative New Zealand.
First performance: by Ethos trio — 13 Aug 00. Ilott Concert Chamber, Wellington, N.Z.
Performances of this work
9 Oct 2018: at Australia Ensemble (Tyree Room, John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW). Featuring Australia Ensemble.
16 Oct 2012: at Australia Ensemble @UNSW Lunch hour concert (Leighton Hall). Featuring Australia Ensemble.
2 May 2009: at Australian Chamber Ensemble (Conservatorium Recital Hall (Hobart)). Featuring Janine Hanharan, Brigid Burke, Lachlan Redd.
13 Aug 00: Ilott Concert Chamber, Wellington, N.Z.. Featuring Ethos trio.
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