Across the Jade Sea

Program Notes

Across the Jade Sea marks the first time I have been able to unite my twin passions - one composing and writing - under a single roof. In essence, this is a double concerto for two narrators: one a storyteller, the other a solo violinist who serves as the soul of the narrative.

While the text follows the general shape of a children's fable, and abounds with familiar iconography derived from Chinese mythology (dragons, phoenixes, and water serpents all make their appearance), the story itself is a product of my own imagination. After a curtain-raising opening, we are introduced to Popo: a boy who fears nothing and is determined to save his village from a deadly drought. His journey takes him across the Jade Sea, where he confronts the legendary Phoenix. In an inversion of the typical hero's tale, Popo's inability (or refusal) to fulfill the terms of his quest - namely, to kill the Phoenix - becomes the transformative, redemptive act that provides the story's resolution.

There is a lush, cinematic aspect to the musical language that has its roots in Western narrative opera and ballet, complete with what I hope are memorable themes for the central characters, themes that have been imbued with the potential to transform in various ways. But there is also an elusive quality - one might describe it as flow - that suggests a more Eastern sensibility, and that I have tried to cultivate 'between' the notes. On a technical level, the music is characterized by expansive modulations, edgeless transitions, and an organic dialogue between soloist, narrator, and ensemble that aims to create a fluid and immersive experience. Philosophically, the music harbours a fundamental tenderness that reflects the story's themes of compassion and restraint - one that I hope will resonate with modern listeners, especially during times of strife, rigidity, and grief.

In November of 2023, my son received a life-saving liver transplant (with my wife as the donor!) after being diagnosed, at only two months of age, with end-stage liver disease. The soaring melody that emerges at the very end of the piece, during the story's celebratory finale (my own spin on the origins of Dragon Boat racing), was composed during the darkest hours of my son's hospitalization in an attempt to transcend the pain we were experiencing. I have dedicated this work to Robin, and I hope that he - along with many other children like him - will find this journey an inspiring and uplifting one.

Performances

• February 2, 2025 - London Symphonia, conducted by Rei Hotoda; Scott St. John, violin; Derek Kwan, narrator. Metropolitan United, London, ON.

Commissions and Awards

• Commissioned by London Symphonia with assistance from the Ontario Arts council.

Video