Double Ninth Festival - Hiking on Mount Qi

Dear all,

After the "Halloween" music, I decided to start a larger set of works - the Festive series, which is a collection of music for festivals in my home place.

I started with Double Ninth festival, which is quite close to this year's Halloween (29 Oct).

Regarding the work,

Double Ninth Festival - Hiking on Mount Qi
writen for Ensemble and Voice

This is a work under the Double Ninth festival, also known as Chung Yeung Festival, is a festival that reminisce our ancesters and dead. This work is writen based on the work 九日齊山登高 by 杜牧 (Du Mu, 803-852), a Chinese calligrapher, poet, and politician who lived during the late Tang dynasty. The lyrics are as follows, Double Ninth Festival - Hiking on Mount Qi - Du Mu Translation by the composer Autumnal scenery spotted on water with wild geese heading south, With wine pots, I climb up the lush contryside with friends. Hey, just laugh in all the difficulties, With chrysanthemums in the hair on the way home. Guzzle in the name of the festival, instead of climbing up and sigh for the sunset. Living short as people always were, Why should we weep at the mountain like Duke Jing of Qi?

HoYin
 

Hey @HoYin Cheung!

Sorry for reviewing a piece related to Double Ninth Fest even though it's almost Christmas now lol! I for certain the change of style in your new piece! The use of pentatonism is lovely. I love the contrast between the passage of a more ironic strings interlude with a more dissonant language and the passages with the voice which is more consonant and pentatonic. My fav. passage is in b.67 when you use that Eb major and followed by Gb major with great effect and matching the poetic line for broadening effects:  "Living short as people always were, Why should we weep at the mountain like Duke Jing of Qi?" Thx for sharing!

Henry