Mirror of the Past: 4 Tang Dynasty Poems (Live at Nørrebro Concert Church, Denmark, 5/24/2022)

Featuring

Gert Mortensen
Lars Hannibal
Michala Petri
Stephen Yeseta
Xu Ziling

Did you know?

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Compositional Technique

The composer used the pentatonic scale for both melodic and harmonic structures, drawing on traditional Chinese music and global folk music.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The album's music is based on poems from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) that explore humanity's deep connection to nature, serving as a commentary on today's climate crisis.

Recording & Production

The erhu part was recorded remotely from Beijing by Xu Ziling, a performer with degrees from the Central Conservatory in Beijing, due to pandemic travel restrictions.

Recording & Production

Some songs feature specific Chinese musical traditions, such as a 'Monk Choir' sung by the entire studio crew and the 'Fei Ge' or 'Flying Song' courtship ritual of the Miao people.

Compositional Technique

The album incorporates musical elements from various continents and cultures, aiming for a dialogue that transcends the original Tang Dynasty setting.

Recording & Production

The recording features a countertenor voice, guitar, recorder, Chinese erhu (a bowed string instrument), and various percussion instruments, chosen for their diverse characters.

Compositional Technique

The music features a stable 'ground' in the bass, symbolizing the constant hum of nature and rooting the music without relying on formulaic harmonies.