From a Dream (2009)
for erhu, zheng and percussion (2009-10)
Commissioned by the Orchid Ensemble, with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts
Duration: 11 min.
"From a Dream" was commissioned in 2009 by the Orchid Ensemble for a program featuring China's picturesque Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) as a theme. In writing this work, I was inspired by breathtaking imagery of the mountain, from the legendary "sea of clouds" phenomenon to the intricate rock formations and twisted shapes of its ancient trees. The work unfolds in a series of musical tableaux, with each section inspired by a specific element of nature. Much of the music is intimate and unhurried, aiming to convey a sense of the mountain's awesome beauty, spaciousness and eternalness.
