Work
Inner Phases
for Chinese instrument ensemble and string quartet
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About
In Chinese philosophy and cosmology, the Five Phases (Wu Xing) are a taxonomy of the cycles and processes of the natural world. Every phase follows, overcomes or generates another: spring follows winter, wood feeds fire, fire melts metal. The flow of energy from one phase to another can be expansive or destructive.
In Inner Phases, this constant flow of energy is made tangible by the pulse-streams that form between the Western and Chinese instruments, often with a dynamic sliding in pitch that recalls the contours of Chinese tonal speech.
Inner Phases was written with the support of Creative New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington.
Dedication note
This piece is dedicated to the New Zealand String Quartet and the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra, and is in honour of Michael's mentor, Jack Body, who commissioned the work.
Performance history
17 Dec 2013: Performed by the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet at the Forbidden City Concert Hall, in Beijing.
09 Mar 2014: Performed by the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet at the Michael Fowler Centre, in Wellington.
11 Mar 2014: Performed by the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet at the Aurora Centre, in Christchurch.
13 Mar 2014: Performed by the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet at the Gallagher Academy, in Hamilton.
15 Mar 2014: Performed by the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre, in Auckland.
Studio recording with The New Zealand String Quartet and the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra, in Beijing.