Shih's music aims to explore the depths of the human mind, fusing Western musical traditions with Far Eastern philosophy.
Compositional Technique
The pieces 'Crossing The River' and 'The Separation' are the second and third parts of a river-triptych inspired by motifs from French writer Marguerite Duras.
Composer Biography
Shih, the Taiwanese-Austrian composer, was born in Taipei in 1950 and moved to Vienna at 24 to study composition and harp, later becoming an Austrian citizen.
Compositional Technique
Shih's unique compositional style is characterized by an almost complete abandonment of melody and rhythm, yet it creates new soundscapes through its richness of expression and emotion.
Composer's Artistic Vision
A characteristic trait of Shih's music is its journey from darkness to light, often addressing existential fears but always with hope for overcoming them.
Compositional Technique
The works 'A Measure For Nine' and 'A Measure For Piano And Four Strings' are part of Shih's ongoing chamber music series 'Ein Takt für...', which combines diverse instruments in mixed orchestrations.
Instruments
'A Measure For Nine' features a unique ensemble that spans continents and eras, including the Chinese Erhu and Pi-Pa alongside European baroque instruments like the viola da gamba, harpsichord, and lute.
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