Ink and Paper

Ink and Paper (Paintings at the Chinese Exhibition), is a dynamic piano piece written in the style of traditional Chinese music. The constant changes of thematic material, character, and its keyboard register and texture epitomise the act of observing different paintings at the exhibition. The various themes are all drawn from the composer’s childhood encounters with the Chinese ancient history, folklore and myths. Inspired by the images of Chinese palaces on high mountains in the midst of drifting clouds, the music sets a majestic and solemn tone at the beginning of the piece. The character then changes into a lurking and sinister one as clouds gather to blur one’s vision. As the mist clears, temples from far away become visible, and one can hear distant chimes ringing... The piece undergoes a major transition when it evolves into a whirling cascade of Gu Zheng-imitating passages and culminates into a surprisingly giddy and exuberant Chinese folk dance. The catchy and uplifting qualities of the folk-like tune, written in simple texture, make this part of the piece especially distinctive. The mood intensifies significantly as the scene enters a battlefield, characterized by the powerful pulsating octaves ostinato in the lower register. After an exhilarating and colourful musical journey the piece finally comes to a declamatory ending, building a thematic ark with the opening. Ink and Paper (Paintings at the Chinese Exhibition) is a work for solo piano. The piece was commissioned by and premiered at the Art Musuem of the Chinese University of Hong Kong on 13th December 2014 for the Chinese art exhibition “Open Books.” Ink and Paper has also been performed for the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr. Gregory So and his guests at the Residence of the Director General of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, and at Renaissance College Hong Kong’s 10th Anniversary Celebration.