Commission for the Chai Found Music Workshop, Taipei, based around the use of the pentatonic scale as an expression of the five elements of Wu Xing [wood (mu), fire (huo), earth (tu), metal (jin), and water (shui)] and their connection to the cycle of overcoming and destruction.

​Melodic patterns are assigned to each element which are, in turn, interpolated by way of pitch and rhythm. The interaction and tessellations of the musical material aim to reveal deeper meaning in this ancient philosophy.

Premiere 28 November 2009. Forum Music Auditorium, Taipei City, China.

Performers

Chen-Ming Huang (erhu), Hui-Kuan Lin (pipa), Chung-Hsien Wu (di).

​DURATION : 3’ 45”