MUSICAL WORKS

HUI Steve Ngo-shan / 許敖山

2011

The Butterfly Process / 蝶化
[die hua]

Birth Y: 1974 Birth C: HONG KONG Gender: Male

Dest: Concert

Media Specification: Mixed music

Commission: 4 Gig Heads Percussion Group

Performer(s): Steve Hui (electronic) and 4 Gig Heads Percussion Group (Fu Ye Chung Angus, Ho Yi On, Leung Ching Kit Jason, Luk Kin Bun)

First perf.: Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall, 10 Jun 2011

Duration: 07:00

Perf. Country: HONG KONG

Instruments: percussion ensemble and electronic

Perf media: Software: Ableton Live, Cycling '74 Max/MSP

Prog. notes: My first understanding of the concept of symmetry was way back in kindergarten. It was an assignment to paint on one half of a paper, then fold it over to generate a butterfly-esque beautiful pattern.

From poetry to architecture to visual art, symmetry has always been a popular concept for artistic realization. That certainly applies to music as well. Nevertheless, I always wonder if it is possible to achieve a perfectly symmetric through a piece of music. The composition of music is different from other art form. We cannot appreciate music from a fixed view point; it must be experienced in a linear way. In fact the time element in music often brings in uncertainties, which tends to break a perfect symmetry. For this reason, my approach to symmetry leans towards transforming rather than repeating. As in my work Butterfly Process, various degrees of symmetry apply to the form, rhythm and gesture. My goal is not to realize the faithful mirroring, but to transform the concept of symmetry into a meaningful musical experience.

Editor: Ka Lun CHEUNG

Comment: http://www.4gigheads.com/images/2011front.jpg, http://www.4gigheads.com/images/2011back.jpg.