Water In Love (2020)
for mixed voices, a capella
In Water In Love, the chorus recites Ed Bok Lee’s beautiful poem by rendering the words in a collective recitative — at times singing together in unison, and at other times branching off into shorter fragments. Lee’s poem describes a fantastic, idealized love from the point of view of water, connecting two elemental human needs into a meditation on the wild, liquid, and life-sustaining force of love. The chorus provides a wonderful, communal medium for Lee’s important message.
Ed Bok Lee, “Water In Love” from Mitochondrial Nights. Copyright © 2019 by Ed Bok Lee. Used by permission of Coffee House Press, coffeehousepress.org. All rights reserved worldwide.
Carmina Burana 布蘭詩歌 (2015, rev. 2017)
three songs for chorus
commissioned by Hong Kong Voices in celebration of its 15th anniversary
Team
Mixed Voices, A Capella
Preface
Carmina Burana was commissioned by Hong Kong Voices, an ensemble of local musicians who often highlight the rich sacred choral tradition in their performances. I wanted to respond to their repertoire by writing a work that uses a sacred Latin text (or at least one that references the church), but also write specifically for a chorus that can speak and sing in fluent Cantonese. For this work, I chose two poems from the Carmina Burana, the same set of 254 poems from an 11th- or 12th-century manuscript that Carl Orff used for his famous 1936 cantata.
The original Carmina Burana manuscript included poems that can be roughly divided into three thematic areas: songs about morals which sometimes also satirize the church, songs about love, and songs about drinking and general merriment. The three movements of my Carmina Burana similarly reflect these themes; I used a poem that warns of a corrupted clergy (Recitative: Ecce sonat in aperto) and a lively dance-song about students taking the day off to play and celebrate (Primo vere: Tempus hoc letitie). For “love”, I turned to a beautiful poem of unrequited love by Song-dynasty poet 賀鑄 (also from the 11th and 12th century).
Heard
June 20, 2015 Hong Kong Voices, China Congregational Church, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
June 3, 2017 Hong Kong Voices, St Andrew’s Church, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Image and select photos from the June 2017 concert by Tang Ho-ching.
Transfiguration Sunday (2012)
for mixed chorus, handbells, string quartet and organ
commissioned by Christ Church United Methodist (New York, NY)
Anthem for Mixed Chorus, Handbell Choir, Organ and String Quartet
Commissioned by Christ Church United Methodist (New York, NY)
Team
Mixed Chorus (SATB), Handbell Choir, Organ, String Quartet
Preface
Transfiguration Sunday was written for the occasion, and was commissioned by Christ Church United Methodist in New York City. Christ’s transfiguration on a mountain to Peter, James and John is celebrated on the final Sunday of the Epiphany season, and marks the transition between Epiphany and Lent. The text is taken from the transfiguration accounts in the synoptic gospels (King James Version).
The work was written specifically for the Christ Church Choir and Handbell Choir, as well as the church’s 1960 Casavant Frères organ, accompanied by a string quartet. The featured soloist on the recording is baritone Robert Maril.
Heard
June 3, 2012, Christ Church United Methodist (New York, NY). Dr. Steven Pilkington, conductor, Ryan Jackson, organ, Cory Davis, conductor (handbells ensemble), Robert Maril, baritone.
Words Become Unlatched (2008)
seven madrigals for mixed voices
commissioned by Volti as part of the Choral Arts Laboratory
Seven Madrigals for Chamber Chorus
Words by Benjamin Rogers
Commissioned by Volti as a part of the Volti Choral Arts Laboratory
Team
Mixed Chorus (SATB)
Preface:
Words Become Unlatched is a set of seven madrigals for unaccompanied chamber chorus, created collaboratively with writer Benjamin Rogers. Throughout the work, the chorus both sings and speaks Mr. Roger’s texts, a varied collection of thoughts and images related to the many relationships that we form in our lives. The creative process began in June, 2007, and included a workshop with the members of Volti, for whom the work was written.
Words Become Unlatched was a result of the 2008 Volti Choral Arts Laboratory commissioning and residency program, and is dedicated to Robert Geary, Mark Winges and the members of Volti.
Heard
May 18-19, 2008 Volti, with Robert Geary, conductor (San Francisco and Berkeley, CA)
十年 Ten Years (2007)
poem by Lap Lam
for mixed voices
written for Hong Kong Voices
For Mixed Chorus
Words by 林立 (Lap Lam)
Written for Hong Kong Voices, Ken Lam, artistic director
Team
Mixed Chorus, a capella
Preface
The mountains and the streams, feelings, questions, generations come and go. Ten Years (2007) is a collaboration between poet Lap Lam and composer George Lam. The work consists of two poems: an original, classical-style verse with the same title, and a companion poem written in the contemporary vernacular. While the classical poem reflects on the bygone decade, the accompanying contemporary verse asks pointed questions: how much have we remembered, and how much have we already forgotten?
Ten Years was composed for and dedicated to Ken Lam and Hong Kong Voices.
Heard
June 2, 2007, Hong Kong Voices (Ken Lam, conductor), at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
August 11, 2007, Hong Kong Young People’s Chorus (Virginia Cheng, conductor), at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts