#SCOSoundbites 

#SCOSoundbites - Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
Concert: Music Tuesdays: Joyful
Date: 1 November 2022
Composed by Sulwyn Lok
Known today as a model of openness and spontaneity, the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove were a group of Chinese scholars, writers, and musicians of the third century CE. Finding themselves powerless to speak against corruption and court intrigues, the group sought refuge in a bamboo grove, where they wrote poetry, made music, engaged in witty metaphysical discussions, and lived an uninhabited life. This septet scored for 2 zhongruans, 2 daruans, a xiao, a guqin and a percussionist does not portray each individual sage, but instead is a modern expression of the emotions and ideals that the group collectively stood for. These were wise individuals who, despite having their own quirky traits, had a sense of social critique and responsibility, and true pain in their hearts. With their stories in mind, this piece hopes to be a spiritual successor of what the Seven Sages wished to do but could not - provoke reflection on the society that we currently live in, inspire expression of individuality, pursuit of a poetic life, and remembering that the world is larger than we are. Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove is divided into 4 mini movements performed continuously. I: Seeking Answers In the distance, we hear the gentle caresses of melodies evocative of a time long gone. Each instrument drifts and creates a texture, seeking out answers to the universe. A solo zhongruan begins to speak, as though with a definite voice, but shortly decides that there are words better left unsaid. II: Seeking a Voice The Seven Sages engage in qingtan (“pure conversation”), where they debate on philosophy and metaphysics. While often trying to steer clear of political topics, the occasional veiled political criticism gets thrown out. Under the influence of alcohol, the music pushes and pulls between the tonalities of F and G, as the conversations ebb and flow. III: Seeking Sanctuary Ji Kang, one of the sages, breaks the conversation, and begins to play a tune. His words draw silence from the group, as they sit and listen to him. The free solo of the ruan gradually transitions into a riff, almost like an acoustic session from our modern times - blurring the spatial and temporal boundaries between the bamboo grove and our concert hall, the 3rdcentury and the 21st century. Coming together to make music, the sages transcend the material world, to seek sanctuary in a spiritual home. IV: Seeking Purpose The Seven Sages strip naked and jump straight into the water. Emerging with ecstatic states, they continue their intense debates and passionate poetry duels, charged with self-expression, where the theme from the second movement is transformed and intensified. The music once again warps time and space, this time combining traditional music elements from the sages’ era with the aesthetics of jazz and metal, genres with an attitude. As the music builds into a frantic euphoria, this chaos is left open to our own interpretation - is this a wild abandonment of society, or a passionate call for action? The piece features a zhongruan and daruan with strings tuned lower than the usual tuning. The loosened strings provide a unique sonority reminiscent of traditional Chinese music, and also open new possibilities in idiomatic performance techniques on the ruan.
View Music Tuesdays: Joyful house programme here: bit.ly/3U43W3u
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#SCO音乐摘录 - 《竹林七贤》
音乐会：《周二聚会：不亦乐乎》
日期：2022年11月1日
骆思卫作曲
中阮1 ：张蓉晖
中阮2：罗彩霞
大阮1：景颇
大阮2：饒思銘
笛/箫：曾志
古琴：佘伟铭
打击乐：巫崇玮
竹林七贤是中国公元三世纪的一群学者、作家和音乐家，如今是狂放不羁的典型代表。当时因为无力发表 反对腐败和宫廷阴谋的言论，所以隐居竹林，在林中写诗诵文，探讨玄理，过着无拘无束的生活。 这首由两个中阮、两个大阮、一个箫、一个古琴和一个打击乐组成的七重奏并不是描绘竹林七贤中的七人， 而是以现代的方式表达了这群人共同所代表的情感和理想。聪明过人的七人，尽管在别人眼中看似古怪， 但却对社会有着批判性和责任的承担。这首曲目以竹林七贤的故事为灵感，希望能成为七人的精神继承 者--激发我们对当前社会的反思、个人的表达，追求诗意的生活和无止尽的知识。 《竹林七贤》分为四小乐章： 一、寻求答案 我们仿佛从远方听到温柔的旋律，唤起很久以前的回忆。不同乐器发出的声音，奏出不同的层次，寻找宇 宙中的答案。中阮声响起，仿佛一个明确的声音开始独白，但随之决定此时无声胜有声。 二、寻求声音 七贤饮酒清谈，讨论哲学玄理。虽然试图避开政治话题，但也不仅会对政治批评。在酒精的影响下，随着 谈话的起伏，音乐在F和G调之间摇摆不定。 三、寻求庇护 七贤之首嵇康打断了谈话，开始演奏曲子。他的言行让气氛宁静下来，其他几人安静地坐着听着嵇康的 演奏。阮的自由独奏逐渐变成重复性的旋律，好似现代的原生创作，模糊了三世纪的竹林和二十一世纪的 音乐厅空间和时间之间的界限。竹林七贤聚在一起创作音乐，超越了物质世界，在林中的精神家园寻求内 心的庇护。 四、寻求目的 七贤脱下外衣跳进池中，以兴奋的状态露出水面，继续他们满腔热血的辩论和吟诗作词，句句充满自我 表达，第二乐章的主题从而产生转变。音乐再次模糊了时间和空间的界限，而这次融合了竹林七贤时代的 传统音乐元素和现代那些如爵士乐与金属乐有“态度”的音乐流派。随着音乐进入一种狂乱的状态，解读 权就落在了观众的手上--这是抛弃社会的忧愤不平，还是拯救社会的热情呼吁。 这首曲目的特点是中阮和大阮的弦比平时的调音来得低。较松的弦带来了一种独特的声音，让人联想到传 统音乐，也为惯用的阮演奏技术提供了新的可能性。
点击链接参阅《周二聚会：不亦乐乎》节目册: bit.ly/3U43W3u