Composer:
Roydon Tse

Librettist:

Composer website:
https://www.roydontse.com

Composer contact:

Performance forces:
sop or ten — orchestra, incl dagu drum and pipa

Length:
0:04

Languages:
Mandarin

Notes:
Based on the infamous Tang poem by Li Bai, Quiet Thoughts by Night is an evocative setting of the poem for tenor and orchestra (or piano reduction). The piece seeks to capture the sense of poignancy and nostalgia, beginning with a sense of stillness and quiet. The piece starts with a steady ostinato in the harp paired with high harmonics in the strings that evoke a glistening and frosty landscape. The tenor, representing the poet Li Bai, then declares his longing for home and begins a dialogue with the orchestra. The piece was written for the 2020 iSing! International Composition Competition. Perusal score available at https://roydontse.com/quiet-thoughts-by-night/