Yi-De Chen: Lights from There, for Violoncello and Piano (2016) [7’23”]

Event: Indiana University JSoM Composition Recital
Date: 20:00, February 16, 2017. premiere
Location: Auer Hall, Indiana University JSoM, Bloomington, IN, United States

Performers: Kevin Flynn, violoncello
Yuseok Seol, piano

Program Note

When human beings realize how vast and diverse the real world is and what its infinite possibilities present, they may start to feel amazed. Also, figuring out how tiny one is compared with the universe and how short one’s life is, people may feel astounded. Philosophy, religion and art seek for the principles to describe the Universe.

Although my explanation is not persuasive enough, I tend to claim my personal view: when comprehending how the lights come from the Universe, I feel respectful, because, according to current scientific research and studies, it is evident that both visible and invisible lights which come from outer space are generated by giant stars and unknown resources. This actually conveys many mysterious messages to humanity: these messages lead people to explore and seek for the truth of the nature of the universe. This means, light will undoubtedly provide the crucial direction for people and further inspire them with the righteous thoughts. This conception has stayed in my mind for a long time and galvanized my motivation to write this work to depict and express my experience of being touched.

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《遠望》（給大提琴與鋼琴）(2016) [7’23”]

展演名稱：印第安納大學雅各布斯音樂學院作品呈現音樂會
日期：2017年2月16日，20:00，首演
地點：印第安納大學雅各布斯音樂學院奧爾廳，布魯明頓市，印第安納州，美國

演出人員：大提琴 / Kevin Flynn
鋼琴 / Yuseok Seol（韓文名：설유석）

樂曲解說

相信當每個人意識到宇宙的浩瀚與無限可能性時，會感受到敬畏。於是，尋找邏輯與原則試圖理解。

當往夜空望去，感受到如此撼動，因為諸多研究報告指出不論是可見光或不可見光，均來自遠方的星系或未知的物質。來自遙遠星系的光，指引著人們探索與發現。這樣子的想法存在我心裡已有一段時間，因而寫作這首樂曲。

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The Forest with the Black Moonlights, for Pipa and String Quartet (2013) [10’04”]

Event: Spring Autumn Music Concert Series Euterpe: Spring
Date: 14:30, May 23, 2015
Location: Hong-Gah Museum, Taipei City, Taiwan

Performers:
Yi-Ran Zhao, pipa
Counterpoint String Quartet

FDF Score (Full Screen Preview)

The Forest with the Black Moonlights, for Pipa and String Quartet (2013) [10’04”]

Event: Yi-De Chen’s M.M. Recital
Date: 19:30, May 26, 2014
Location: Concert Hall, Taipei National University of the Arts, Taipei City, Taiwan

Performers:
Wen-Bin Xie, pipa
Cheng-Hao Kuo, violin I
Wei-Shan Chang, violin II
Ying-Chen Chen, Viola
Hsun Chen, violincello
Po-Hung Chen, conductor

Program Note

During the night, the forest beneath the mysterious moonlight and clouds always stimulates my imagination. I love transforming my sensations into music, a beautiful language that can touch anyone’s heart. The characteristics of the forest—such as the rising voice of the wind, the rain, the chirping of birds, the image of a branch flickering, the odor of grass, leaves, stones, and soil— combine with folk tales to inspire my artistic creativity. Every part of the forest was a profound inspiration in the process of writing this piece.
This piece is in three parts. In the beginning, the primary musical idea is played by the pipa. The pipa strings are powerful as the wind, bringing the leaves down from their branches. Then, delicate fragments emerge from the string players. Harmonics, tremolos, and pizzicatos then contribute to form a widely-layered texture. Sorrowful melodies take shape in the next section, gradually becoming more intense and overwhelming, when the pipa’s musical idea becomes stronger, which sounds as if you were standing alone in the forest, amazed by the tremendous scenery.
The last part is introduced by a relatively concrete pipa melody. In this part, various timbres combine and blend into each other. At the very end, the sounds of each instrument become like tears. While writing this work, I have realized that although I am no longer a child, I have not forgotten how to bravely cry.

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《影月森林》（給琵琶與弦樂四重奏）(2013) [10’04”]

2015年5月23日，14:30 │ 春秋樂集─SQ+春季─音樂會
鳳甲美術館藝文空間，臺北，臺灣

《影月森林》（給琵琶與弦樂四重奏）(2013) [10’04”]

展演名稱： 陳以德─作品呈現音樂會
日期：2014年5月26日，19:30，首演
地點：國立臺北藝術大學音樂廳，臺北市，臺灣

樂曲解說

到了夜晚，月光下的森林是如此神秘而令我產生聯想。由於我喜歡將感知
經驗轉化為音樂，在森林裡可能會聽到的聲響（如風吹雨落、蟲鳴鳥叫、枝葉
搖曳等）、一些讓我注意的視覺經驗（如枝葉的反光、樹影等）、一些於構築森
林情景上扮演重要角色的觸覺和嗅覺印象（如草木、葉片、石子、土壤、水氣、
風拂等）以及我心靈意念中的詩意幻想（如足跡、傳說故事等）便成為我創作
這首作品時的靈感。

本曲包含三個主要的段落，開頭以冷冽的琵琶音形引出錯落的絃樂撥奏，
彷彿一股力量將樹葉打落，而後以絃樂泛音、顫音等長音素材和各式點狀聲響
營造聲響上的立體空間感和由音色所形成的層次感，彷若置身於森林中。第二
段落由如歌般的旋律帶出，給人寒冷淒涼的感覺，隨後醞釀成紛亂而激昂的情
緒。第三段落則由琵琶獨奏以一段較具象的旋律所引出，再結合絃樂撥奏、弓
背奏及琵琶的摘音等所共構而成的細碎聲響，帶來啜泣般的音樂表情。看來，
在寫作的同時，我還沒忘記怎麼流淚。

Yi-De Chen: The Story of Pearl Milk Tea, for Percussion Quartet (2012) [11’16”]

List of performances: 3 previous performances:

Event: Music Taiwan 2015 Concert Series
Date: 19:30, Dec 6, 2015
Location: Exhibition Hall, Wei-Wu-Ying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Performers:
Succession Percussion Group

Event: Yi-De Chen’s M.M. Recital
Date: 19:30, May 26, 2014
Location: Concert Hall, Taipei National University of the Arts, Taipei City, Taiwan

Performers:
Yu-Chen Hsiao, percussion I
Ming-Ju Tsai, percussion II
Sheng-Wen Lee, percussion III
Yu-Ru Chang, percussion IV
Su-Han Yang, conductor

Event: Composition Concert for Young Composers Series I
Date: 19:30, May 25, 2013, premiere
Location: Forum Music Auditorium, Taipei City, Taiwan

Performers:
Tan-Ling Wu, percussion I
Huang Li-Ya, percussion II
Yen-Ting Chen, percussion III
Ying-Han Weng, percussion IV

Honors: National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Composition Commission Distinction Award
Appearance: National ChengChi University Publication, Review of The Story of Pearl Milk Tea for Percussion Quartet (Vol 1545, May 31, 2013)
http://uonlineblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/blog-post_5190.html

Program Note

I associate the sounds of percussion instruments with the quality and flavor of pearl milk tea, a popular and influential cultural element in my native Taiwan. I often think about transforming common elements of daily life into musical compositions and wonder how they might touch an audience. Therefore, I decided to write this piece for pearl milk tea. Pearl milk tea first emerged in Taiwan tea shops in the 1980s. One possible origin is Chun Shui Tang teahouse in Taichung, where Ms. Lin Hsiu Hui accidentally poured sweetened tapioca balls into Black Tea. The drink has become popular with people around the world in recent years.

This piece consists of four parts. I create different atmospheres in each part by organizing diverse timbres and tones. These atmospheres provide contrasts between each part. The first part with abstract atmosphere is mainly comprised of unpitched metallic percussion instrument sounds. Then, the atmosphere of the music turns animated and joyful. In the following part, dramatic changes happen since the extremely contrasting materials and rhythms start to interrupt each other. Finally, the mood of music gradually returns to the abstract status found in the beginning of the piece.

I am excited to use my unique musical language to interpret the history of pearl milk tea and share my own enjoyment, happiness and memories of drinking it.

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陳以德：《珍珠奶茶故事》（給擊樂四重奏）(2012) [11’16”]

展演場次（共計3個場次）：

展演名稱：亞洲作曲家聯盟臺灣總會─音樂臺灣─作品呈現音樂會
日期：2015年12月6日，19:30
地點：衛武營國家藝術文化中心281展演場，高雄市，臺灣

展演名稱：陳以德─作品呈現音樂會
日期：2014年5月26日，19:30
地點：國立臺北藝術大學音樂廳，臺北市，臺灣

展演名稱：十方樂集─陌上花開─給新秀作曲家的室內樂展I
日期：2013年5月25日，19:30，首演
地點：十方樂集擊樂劇場，臺北市，臺灣

樂曲解說

對一位創作者而言，不斷追求並建立自身獨特語彙是重要的，在此同時，偶爾回過頭來關注音樂本身所能帶給聽者的感受，或嘗試以生活中的體驗作為創作發想，也許能讓自己的音樂更為接近聽者。

擊樂器豐富的點狀聲響和特殊殘響，尤其是一些音色甘醇且帶給我精緻印象的擊樂器，如磬和古鈸，常讓我聯想到液態或顆粒狀物質的流動。由於我一直很喜歡喝「珍珠奶茶」，因此決定以這項飲料作為靈感來源。珍珠奶茶是台灣最具代表性的飲料和美食之一，也成為了許多台灣人共同的生活經驗。這項飲料源自於1980 年代的泡沬紅茶店，據說於1987 年由台中春水堂茶舖將地方美食「粉圓」加入調味紅茶中研發製成，由於口感特殊，很快便受到廣大回響，多年來已逐漸流行至東亞、歐洲、美國甚至中東國家等地。

這首作品由四個主要的段落所組成，我透過組織和安排各種質地擊樂器的聲響，製造多樣的音樂情境，讓每個段落各具特色並具對比性。第一段落主要以無固定音高之金屬樂器營造朦朧氣氛，第二段帶有活潑輕快的性格而後轉為抒情，第三段由詼諧轉朦朧並且在音樂上有著較為劇烈的變化和轉折，最後一個段落則又回到全然朦朧的氣氛。

我期待在這首創作中以音樂的方式再現、詮釋珍珠奶茶這項飲品從泡沫紅茶開始逐漸演變，直到後來發展成現今多元而具規模之飲品系列文化的這段發展史。當然，也包含了珍珠奶茶帶給我那獨特的感動、喜悅與回憶。