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- Tan Dun
Lament: Autumn Wind (1993)
- G Schirmer Inc (World)
- any six instruments
- any voice
- 15 min
- Traditional love song from the late Ming Dynasty
- Chinese
Programme Note
Lament: Autumn Wind was commissioned by the Scottish Early Music Consort. The combination of instruments is selected by the ensemble from recommended choices including recorder, sheng (a Chinese bamboo mouth organ), rebec, medieval violin, pipa (Chinese lute), and harp. However, other instruments may be used if so desired. The piece follows canonic patterns and evokes an aural effect of traditional China, bringing in performance techniques particular to the region. The text is taken from a Ming Dynasty (16th century) poem.
Scores
Reviews
In Lament, quite apart from using a melee of ancient East/West instruments and sounds, and these in tiny shreds and smudges, [Tan Dun] creates instrumental theatre, manipulating the stillness by confounding our expectations. The silences might be sudden, our held breath diffused by Tan beating shapes in the air, or we might be slid into stillness on an outbreath…. It is music of surprises, but of incredible cleanness—listening was like waiting for dawn to arrive.
20th March 1993