Work
Three Poems of Mu Xin
for bass voice and string quartet
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About
Note by the composer:
I have been attracted to the profoundly sensual and philosophical world of Mu Xin. The three poems I chose to set are simple and straightforward. But one discovers a wealth of wit and poignancy behind the plainness of the Chinese text.
Dedication note
I dedicate this work to Mr. Mu Xin who passed away in Dec. 2011, shortly after the completion of my songs.
Text note
Selections from “My Bountiful Desire”, a book of poetry published by Guangxi Normal University Press. English translation generously provided by Luo Hui from Confucius Institute in Wellington, New Zealand
My Bountiful Desire
On a particularly quiet night
My desire grows
Falls bountifully
On branches and window frames
Lip eddy, breast piers, thigh ravine
Plains and distant hills, path after path
All covered with my desire
For the next day
It will fall again, bountifully
Quieter, larger
My desire
On Happiness
A bird’s life is a happy one
Because I think a bird’s
Life is happy
Resembles a bird at times
Happily spent, gone
And I will be happy again
Even a bird hasn’t been this happy
A History of Love
A wooden hut
Night love
Mad love
Wind
Surf
Sound sleep
Morning tea
Lunch
Evening wine
Seagulls’ incessant calls
Floating clouds
Yawn
One morning
Quietly
One leaves, alone
Evening
The other one
Gone with the waves
Years later
Backpack
Footsteps in the sand
No hut
Remains
Here
Ocean wind, cold
In vain
Returns
Thin moon
Night after night
Full moon
Performance history
04 Mar 2012: Power and Passion - New Zealand String Quartet with Jonathan Lemalu
29 Mar 2012: Eight Colours: New Zealand String Quartet
05 Oct 2013: Journey to the East - Composer Portrait: Gao Ping