The Age of the Dragon
General Info
Movement
1. The Sun
2. The Moon
3. The Stars
4. The Earth
Instrumentation
Western Percussion: 5 Timpani & Marimba
Chinese Percussion: Chinese Tom Toms & Yun Luo
Description
The dragon is a totem of the Chinese race, and the first year of the 21st century happens to be the Year of the Dragon on the Chinese horoscope. This happens, it is said, not once in a thousand years but once in three thousand years, and I am one of the lucky ones to witness this. A new millennium brings new hopes and expectations. As a composer, I think I would rather translate my hopes and expectations into music. In The Age of the Dragon, I have put two soloists in the lead: one Chinese percussion and the other, western, in an attempt to demonstrate the soul and the spirit of the Chinese people. The piece is in four movements. The first is The Sun - a symbol of light and heat and of faith and power. The second is The Moon - the watery moonlight is a reflection of the deepest feelings. The third is The Stars - twinkling and fascinating, they symbolize wit and hope and have brought wisdom to numerous sages. The fourth is The Earth - our mother and the home of all the people in the world. It is believed the Earth will get smaller and smaller in the new millennium while people’s hearts will grow closer and closer to one another. I would count this as my only wish on the eve of the new age.
Premiere Details
Chinese Percussion: Yim Hok-man Western Percussion: Lung Heung-wing