12/29/23

Nature Study No. 1 (2023) for four percussionists

Performances

  • 2023 (Premiere)

    Composing Nature

    Centro Congressi di Lavarone, Italy

    Art Percussion Ensemble

In this first installment of short percussion works inspired by the natural world, I borrowed the soundscape commonly found in Southeast Asia – the region I grew up in. As the natural environment is filled with sonically rich materials, it has inspired people to interact with these elements. People then created their own understanding of their environment, paving way for the many rituals found across the region. These rituals range from simple movements with the surroundings, to elaborate processes that also created new musical language: the gong-chime culture. To emulate these soundscape, Nature Study No. 1 used natural objects such as rocks and water, as well as the crotales to symbolise these ritualistic customs.

This piece was conceived during the Composing Nature masterclass workshop held in Lavarone, Italy in collaboration with Art Percussion Ensemble, who brought with them their wealth of experience working as a percussion ensemble under the guidance of Massimo Pastore.

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Laying Plans (2023) for chinese ensemble

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Distant Lines on a Nearby Shore (2023) for fixed media