Farewell Songs
for countertenor, baroque and Chinese instruments
c.ten.| suona, 2 erhus, sackbut | 1perc.| hpschord | vln., vlc., cb.
Duration: 18’
Year of composition: 2023
Texts: Mèng Hàorán, Wang Wei, and Edward Top, after Mahler
Commissioned by Early Music Vancouver, Executive Director Suzie LeBlanc and Music Director Alexander Weimann for the inaugural LUMEN Festival in January 2024.
Composed for countertenor Reginald Mobley, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, erhu players Lan Tung and Jun Rong and suona player Zhongxi Wu.
Financial support: Canada Council for the Arts.
Premiere: Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival, July 2025, Roundhouse, Vancouver
The Farewell Songs present an alternate history of true exchange between ancient Chinese instruments and the early-music practice of the European Baroque ensemble on the shores of Canada in 2024.
In addition, a countertenor sings texts from Tang dynasty poets Mèng Hàorán and Wang Wei. These texts are freely interpreted and translated into English by the composer. Earlier translations of these texts were used by Gustav Mahler in his song cycle Das Lied von der Erde. Part of the idea in the Farewell Songs is how French and German translations (as available to Mahler 120 years ago), numerous English versions, and now a direct Google translation of the original Chinese, have created a multiplicity of references and interpretations of the texts.
The original Chinese poems are narrated by erhu player Lan Tung during the performance, bringing it back to the ‘purity’ of its original intentions. Similarly, the music oscillates between Chinese and Baroque music, and contemporary
musical elements; between the accuracy of historic practice and the freely creative (re)-interpretation of it.
I.
⼣陽 度西嶺
群壑 倏已暝
松⽉ ⽣夜涼
⾵泉 滿清聽
I. Peaceful Sounds (Mèng Hàorán)
The evening sun is setting
to the west, along the mountain range
And the array of narrow valleys
turns abruptly dark
The moon over the pines
gives birth to the cold of night
And the wind and springs
are full of peaceful sounds
II.
之⼦ 期宿來
孤琴 候蘿徑
II. Alone (Mèng Hàorán)
My friend was meant
to arrive today and stay
But I play the lute (qin) alone
and wait by the path along the vines
Everywhere and forever green is the distance.
But my friend isn’t here
I play the lute alone and wait
III.
⼭中相送罢
⽇暮掩柴扉
春草明年绿
王孙归不归
III. Destination (Wang Wei)
Get off your horse and drink and wonder
What is my destination?
Just go, I ask no more
Where endless clouds soar
In silent jubilation
Say goodbye
Moving to South Mountain to live in seclusion
The sunset buries the wildfire
When grass will spring again next year
