MUSICAL WORKS
CHAN Joshua Kam-biu / 陳錦標
1996
Falling leaves / 落葉
[luo ye]
Birth Y: 1962 Birth C: HONG KONG Gender: Male
Dest: Concert
Media Specification: Mixed music
Commission: Xebec Corporation, Japan
Performer(s): Ryoichi Fujimori & Joshua Chan
First perf.: Xebec Hall, Kobe, Japan, 15 Nov 1996.
Duration: 18:00
Perf. Country: JAPAN
Context: Concert "Computer Plus: The Strings Electric II"
Instruments: Cello and live electronics
Prog. notes: "Falling Leaves was commissioned by Xebec Hall of Xebec Corporation, an active promoter of modern arts in Japan, and was premiered by Ryoichi Fujimori and the composer at a concert that features exclusively electroacoustic compositions of Joshua Chan and Karen Tanaka held at Xebec Hall of Kobe city, Japan on November 15, 1996. The main musical materials of this piece include irregular macro/micro rhythms and angular melodic contour that outlines tonal implication. The electronic component consists of a live-controlled pre-recorded tape part, the live pick-up and amplification of the cello part, and special real-time sound effects such as reverberation, delay and equalization generated by 3 effect processing units. Falling Leaves has a 4-part formal structure: a flexible cello cadenza at the beginning, followed by a rhythmic Andante and a narrative Moderato, and ends with a surrealistic Coda. This piece was inspired by two poems, ""Falling Leaves"" (1945) and ""Autumn"" (1980), written by the Chinese poet Du Yunxie. The English translations of the poems are given in the following: ""Falling Leaves"" (1945) Du Yunxie
Year after year, they fall, fall,
unstinting, dropped in every corner,
And year after year, green again, green,
deck branches, cheer hearts.
However many admire them in the spring,
delighted by their new-born tender green,
When autumn comes, they fall again in drifts, dumped in ditches.
Even so the serious-minded artist,
painstaking and patient
Moves hand with passion,
with responsibility,
Writing and tearing out,
tearing out and writing again, writing,
Never tiring till he creates his nearest approximation to perfection.
""Autumn"" (1980) Du Yunxie
Even the pigeon-whistles sound mature.
Gone is the summer of boisterous showers.
Think no more of those severe stifling tests,
Details in dangerous swims.
After the breaking of soil in the budding days of spring,
And the tender leaves twists and bruises in growth,
These twigs have all known torrid days in the hot sun,
Have almost lost their way in the rainy nights.
Now, not a floating cloud is seen in the tranquil sky.
Hills and streams are clear and bright, the field of vision stretches far and wide,
Ah, season of wisdom and maturing emotion,
Even the rivers seem to issue from a deeper source.
In the valley the chaotic air-currents
Have fermented into crystal wine.
How often has this breeze brought autumn's message?
Intoxicating fragrance has steeped autumn flowers and autumn leaves.
The street trees hint at something with their redness.
The bicycle wheels gleam with youthful vigour.
High above, the derricks long arms point to the distance,
And the autumn sun scans the message of fine crops. 《落葉》是由日本致力推動現代藝術的 Xebec Corporation 委約創作，並由藤森亮一及作曲家本人於1996年11月15日在日本神戶市 Xebec 會堂的一場專為展示陳錦標及Karen Tanaka 電子音樂作品的音樂會中首演。樂曲的音樂素材是以不規則宏觀及微觀節奏和較具調性的大起伏音型為主。電子聲響部份包括預先做好並於現場控制的聲帶、現場收錄及擴音的大提琴聲響、和經由三部於現場控制的音響處理器所產生的特殊效果，當中主要包括有迴響、延遲、失真、均衡等。曲式結構分為四個部份：較自由的大提琴華彩；節奏感強烈的行板；如同抒情敘事的中板和飄渺的尾聲。樂曲的靂感來自詩人杜運燮的兩首詩：1945年的《落葉》及1980年的《秋》。
Editor: Ka Lun CHEUNG
Comment: See: http://web.hku.hk/~jkbchan/P/FallingLeaves.htm, http://web.hku.hk/~jkbchan/Complist.htm.