Bian Zhou I & Bian Zhou II
扁舟一 ＆ 扁舟二
Bian Zhou I (2016)
for bass clarinet, harp, and cello
Written for 1st edition Universite d'Altitute.
Performed by Ensemble Multilaterale
Conductor: Léo Warynski
Cello: Pablo Tognan
Harp: Aurélie Saraf
Bass Clarinet: Alain Billard
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『I commented, “Do you happen to know the nature of water or the moon? Water is always on the run like this but never lost in its course; the moon always waxes and wanes but never out of its sphere. When viewed from a changing perspective, nothing in this universe can remain unchanged even within a blink of an eye, but when viewed from an unchanging viewpoint, everything conserves itself, and so do we. Therefore, what’s in them to be admired? Besides, in this universe, everything has its rightful owner. If something does not belong to you, you shall not even have a bit of it. However, the fresh breeze over this river and the bright moon above the mountains are exceptions. If you can hear it, it is a sound to you; if you can see it, it is a view. It never ends and is never exhausted. It is the infinite treasure that nature has for us to enjoy. 』 - Qian Chibifu, Su Shi
Duration: 6
Performance History
premiered at by Ensemble Multilaterale at Universite d'Altitute (2016)
performed by Ictus Ensemble Academy at Ghent (2018)
壬戌之秋，七月既望，蘇子與客泛舟遊於赤壁之下。清風徐來，水波不興，舉酒屬客，誦明月之 詩，歌窈窕之章。少焉，月出於東山之上，徘徊於斗牛之間，白露橫江，水光接天；縱一葦之所 如，凌萬頃之茫然。浩浩乎如憑虛御風，而不知其所止；飄飄乎如遺世獨立，羽化而登仙。 於是飲酒樂甚，扣舷而歌之。歌曰：「桂棹兮蘭槳，擊空明兮泝流光。渺渺兮予懷，望美人兮天一 方。」客有吹洞簫者，倚歌而和之，其聲嗚嗚然，如怨如慕，如泣如訴，餘音嫋嫋，不絕如縷。舞 幽壑之潛蛟，泣孤舟之嫠婦。 蘇子愀然，正襟危坐，而問客曰：「何為其然也？」 客曰：「『月明星稀，烏鵲南飛』，此非曹孟德之詩乎？西望夏口，東望武昌，山川相繆，鬱乎蒼 蒼，此非孟德之困於周郎者乎？方其破荊州，下江陵，順流而東也，舳艫千里，旌旗蔽空，釃酒臨 江，橫槊賦詩，固一世之雄也，而今安在哉？況吾與子，漁樵於江渚之上，侶魚蝦而友麋鹿；駕一 葉之扁舟，擧匏樽以相屬。寄蜉蝣於天地，渺滄海之一粟[2] 。哀吾生之須臾，羨長江之無窮。挾飛仙 以遨遊，抱明月而長終。知不可乎驟得，託遺響於悲風。」 蘇子曰：「客亦知夫水與月乎？逝者如斯，而未嘗往也；盈虛者如彼，而卒莫消長也，蓋將自其變 者而觀之，則天地曾不能以一瞬；自其不變者而觀之，則物與我皆無盡也，而又何羨乎？且夫天地 之間，物各有主，苟非吾之所有，雖一毫而莫取。惟江上之清風，與山間之明月，耳得之而為聲， 目遇之而成色，取之無禁，用之不竭，是造物者之無盡藏也，而吾與子之所共適。」 客喜而笑，洗盞更酌。肴核既盡，杯盤狼藉，相與枕藉乎舟中，不知東方之既白。
Bian Zhou II (2017)
for 11 instruments
Bian Zhou II - Floating Market
Premiered by Atlas Ensemble during the 2017 Taipei Innovative Series
Conductor: Artyom Kim
Bian Zhou II develops the imagination and the sound of the boat from Bian Zhou I. It has become an ancient tremendous boat floating in the middle of the ocean since the 15th century. You could find all kinds of people there – Thieves, kings, soldiers, salesmen, pilots… The musicians are positioned into four groups: Four middle eastern instruments are positioned in the middle, surrounded by others (please see the diagram in the score), and they are improvising based on my given notes and melodies most of the time, mimicking the lively activities on the boat.
Duration: 9
Instrumentation (in 4 groups):
alto saxophone, harp, and cello
bass flute, guzheng (Tuned in D), and double bass
Percussion: Thunder sheet (with super ball) / Woodblock (or temple block) x 5 / Bamboo Wind-chime (more than six pitches) / Bass Drum / Rain Stick / Two Sand blocks
Duduck, Kamancha, Kemenche, Tar