...tessuti... (for string quartet) (2022)

Recording from a short reading session
It is not perfect, but it should give a general shape of the piece.

Ensemble: Argento 
Conductor: Michel Galante

In this piece, I aim to create a "sonic city," where music materials do not narratively or developmentally bind to each other. Hence, this is my attempt to move away from the concept of linear formal structure. We cannot escape from the timeline's linearity without extreme forces; however, the perception and experience of time can be distorted and reshaped. Therefore, in this piece, I try to create a listening experience as if someone is wandering around a strange city.

nebulous《扑朔迷离》 (for ensemble of 10 players)(2022)

In this digital age, identity becomes fluid. Various representations are often applied to a single matter. People often can only see what they need to see. This might seem to be a result of external influences. However, I believe it also significantly reflects the inners of humans. It is human nature to perceive and portray identities in the way of benefitting and psychologically comforting. Moreover, the development of artificial intelligence even accelerates and complicates this. This might seem alert. However, what is reality or objective truth in the first place? I am not in a position to judge this phenomenon or even give a valuable opinion. In fact, I am merely an observer. I try to take this phenomenon as a concrete object like a table, a piece of pork, or a car. This way, I position myself outside this phenomenon, hoping to use it as material for my music more objectively. This leads to this piece, masquerade, a sonic space where different identities fuse.

In masquerade, the piano has two identities: the ordinary and the extended (prepared). On the other hand, like the piano, the violin is an independent force, despite being part of the electronics. However, the violin is phantom, which makes the violin fundamentally different from the piano. It has three representations, audio generated by artificial intelligence, recorded samples, and MIDI. The rest of the electronics set up the environment where the two instruments toil with each other with their different identities. The piece was not written with a storyline in the linear sense. Overall, it’s a sonic space where the two instruments breathe, grow, and interact.

masquerade (for piano, (phantom) violin, and electronics) (2022)

“...split...” explores the ever-shifting essence of existence and the enigmatic nature of time. Through a delicate interplay of children’s toys and traditional instruments, this piece invites listeners on a captivating journey through the depths of temporal transformation. With an element of whimsy and a touch of absurdity, this piece uncovers the intricate layers of temporal experience.

Performed by Divertimento Ensemble

... Split ... (for septet) (2023)

Performed by Barcelona Modern Ensemble (European premiere)

(World premiered by Argento Chamber Ensemble)

Lang Chen

Popular tracks