Senior Recital 041109

4 Mvts for Solo Viola - IV.

4 Mvts for Solo Viola - III.

4 Mvts for Solo Viola - II.

4 Mvts for Solo Viola - I.

On a trip to visit my sponsored child and his family in December 2017, I travelled through the mountainous regions of Umphang, in Tak Province, Thailand. The landscape was nothing less than breath-taking, and it provided a respite from the busyness of life. With the cool breeze and refreshing air, I eventually found myself toying with the idea of writing a piece for Raffles Symphonic Band, as a parting gift. 

I titled this composition Re-Storing Breath in hope that the piece will remind RSB, both present members and my ex-students, to perform music that breathes and invigorates life, rather than simply playing the notes on a score. I also hope the piece will allow you to find invigoration and refreshment as you deal with the inevitable challenge called life. 

In Re-Storing Breath, I have also quoted the melody of one of my favourite lines from the Institution Anthem, which has the lyrics, “with God to guide our way”. A reflection of my personal spiritual journey, the singing of that line reminds me to strive on and push ahead.

Re - Storing Breath

Until the Day Dawns began as a piece composed under the supervision of Professor Frank Ticheli in 2009 while at USC, before being reworked in 2010 after graduation.  It was my attempt to capture the spirit of perseverance and the idea of always pushing ahead, until you see the dawn of day, (hence the title).  The lively and spirited rhythms that you will encounter in the piece serve as a reminder to look upon all things with positivity.  Also, the incorporation of a familiar tune (to many of us, I’m sure) was to add to a touch of home to the piece.  Until the Day Dawns was intended as an encouragement to a friend who was going on an overseas work stint, to always keep running the race, and never stop until the day dawns.

Until The Day Dawns

I started sketching my Piano Trio early in Spring 2009.  Compositionally I was at my lowest and faced with a lot of self-doubts after the orchestral piece I submitted for NMO didn’t turn out well as I expected, despite a great semester with Professor Ticheli.  And I realized that I hadn’t dared to be myself in my music.  I was rediscovering myself as a composer, and interestingly during this time, I met some Singaporeans that really helped me in this compositional process.  Hence, the piece was inspired by the things we talked about, by similar situations we faced, and just by being Singaporean and feeling at home even though home is essentially thousands of miles away.  

The first movement, Simplicity, capitalizes on the tunefulness and lyricism that the violin and cello are extremely capable of.  I sponsor a child with Compassion International, and through writing letters and learning more about Pornchai (his name), I often find myself missing out on the simplicity of life.  He taught me how to appreciate life in itself, rather than what I can achieve, or possess.

3 Mvts for Piano Trio - I. Simplicity

I began sketches on the second movement after getting a rejection letter to the only school I applied to.  Filled with frustration and reflecting back upon life in Los Angeles these 4 years, I decided to attempt to capture all the emotions felt in this movement which I titled In Darkness, Light Shines.  There are times of loneliness, outbursts of anger, lament and pain, and the piece eventually ends with a prevailing A major triad, where the 3 sharps of the A major key symbolizes the trinity.  This movement is dedicated to my friends who just came to LA, as a reminder that it is in darkness where light shines brightest.

3 Mvts for Piano Trio - II. In Darkness, Light Shines

Finally the third movement, Dance On, is a dance like movement that has a quasi-rondo form.  Here, the piano moves into the foreground, while the strings add rhythmic vitality and energy to the movement, eventually building up to a triumphant ending.  I conclude that this life that we live is like a race that we have to keep running, and triumph will come at the end.  And rather than run a dreadful race, let’s treat it like a dance – that at the end of the dance (and of the day), we’d be tired from the entire workout, but will come away satisfied with a sense of accomplishment and joy.  Thank you Dr. Lesemann for this wonderful semester, and for guiding me in this piano trio.

3 Mvts for Piano Trio - III. Dance On

Psalm 23 is one of the most beautifully written and well-known Psalm from the Bible, and it provides me an assurance and confidence of my faith in God, hence my decision on using the text.  This choral composition, my first, is written for eight-part SATB a cappella choir.  You should be able to hear the influence of Eric Whitacre’s choral music in the performance.

Psalm 23

This piece is a set of variations based on the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision.”  Started in Fall 2006 as a class assignment and completed in March 2007, the piece begins with the violin playing the melody on the G string, before the piano enters with chords in the higher octaves. The first 3 variations are more rhythmically driven, before becoming more melodic in the next 2 variations. The 6th features a very articulated violin part, which leads into the last variation. The violin plays a very lyrical melody before coming to a brilliant end.

derek.heng.lim

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