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Celestial River

The Orchid Ensemble’s 5th CD, Celestial River, reflects the curiosity about the stars, the longing for love, and the connection to nature, in collaboration with cellists Peggy Lee (Weaver Woman Suite) and Peng Bo (track 1-3). It features Orchid’s artistic director Lan Tung’s eclectic compositions and new arrangements of traditional Chinese melodies, as well as adventurous improvisations of the musicians. 

Weaver Woman Suite, a series of short compositions and improvisation, was commissioned by Tomoe Arts Society for its dance theatre production Weaver Woman (2015), produced/performed by Colleen Lanki and inspired by Korean writer O Chŏng-Hŭi’s 1970 short story, also named Weaver Woman. Although making references to the well known Asian legend of Weaver Woman (the star Vega in Chinese mythology), O’s writing is an original contemporary story about a woman’s struggle from lost love and traditional values to reach self transformation. This CD is dedicated to Colleen Lanki, the producer and creator of Weaver Woman and the late artistic director of the Tomoe Arts Society.

 

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From the Stars《星空》(8’00”) – composed by Lan Tung (2017)
Lan Tung: vocal & erhu, Dailin Hsieh: zheng, Peng Bo: cello, Jonathan Bernard: marimba, paigu, tuned gongs, suspended cymbal, vibraslap, crotales

Lan Tung originally wrote “From the Stars” for the Orchid Ensemble’s 20th anniversary concert “Music of the Heavens” (2017), collaboration with media artists Aleksandra Dulic and Keneth Newby. Amberley John, on Dulic’s creative arts team of UBC students, shared with us a Haudenosaunee story passed down in her family from Bradley John, a Faithkeeper, bear clan, Oneida of the Thames: Three brothers chased forever the Giant Bear (Big Dipper) and were able to strike it in the autumn. The Bear’s blood turned all leaves on the earth into red, symbolizing seasonal changes. People around the world have stories and legends that explain the changes of seasons and interesting events such as flood, drought, earthquakes, solar eclipse…. Although the stories are different in different cultures, the curiosity and the desire to understand the world are the same. So in a way, this story speaks about what we all share as humans.
2017年為溫哥華蘭韻樂團創團20週年多媒體音樂會「天籟」所作，原配器為人聲、二胡、古箏、打擊。樂曲節奏變化豐富, 由6/8, 7/4, 10/8, 到11/8的拍子組成。《星空》講述在燦爛的星空下, 隱世而居的部落圍坐營火旁, 白髮蒼蒼的老人爲孩子們講述古老的加拿大原住民傳奇故事: 三個勇敢的獵人經過漫長的追蹤, 終於在秋天大熊星座離地平線最近的時節, 射出弓箭, 大熊的鮮血染紅大地, 與秋天滿地掉落的紅葉相印, 象徵四季的更迭。

Gan Sheng Ling《趕牲靈》(3’40”) – Chinese folk song, arranged by Lan Tung (2012, 2018)
Lan Tung: vocal & erhu, Dailin Hsieh: zheng, Peng Bo: cello, Jonathan Bernard: glockenspiel, tuned gongs, suspended cymbal, and shaker
走頭頭的那個騾子喲哦           the donkey leading the caravan
三盞盞的那個燈                      mirrors reflecting sunlight like lamps
哎呀戴上了那個鈴子喲噢        the bell on its neck
哇哇得的那個聲                      dangles and rings

白脖子的那個哈巴喲哦            the dog with white neck
朝南得的那個咬                       barking toward the south
哎呀趕牲靈的那個人兒喲噢     the man leading the herd
過來喲的那個了                       is coming this way

你若是我的哥哥兒喲                if you are my beloved,
你招一招那個手                       wave your hand
哎呀你不是我那哥哥喲.           if you are not,
走你得的那個路                       keep on going

Autumn Moonlight on the Peaceful Lake《平湖秋月》(6’00”) – arranged by Lan Tung  (2013, 2018)
Lan Tung: erhu, Dailin Hsieh: zheng, Peng Bo: cello, Jonathan Bernard: marimba, temple blocks, glockenspiel, tuned gongs, suspended cymbal

Weaver Woman Suite《織女組曲》– Lan Tung compositions & musicians improvisation

  • Emergence 初現 (2’20”) – erhu & cello  
  • Rain Crossing I 雨渡 I (1’50”) – cello & marimba
  • Morning Symphony 晨樂 (2’10”) – erhu & cello
  • Celestial Bridge 鵲橋 (3’30”)  – vocal, marimba, zheng, tuned gongs, suspended cymbal, crotales
  • Circling I 迴旋 I (1’50”) – marimba, cello, erhu
  • Swing 鞦韆 (2:45) – erhu, cello, tuned gongs
  • Rain Crossing II 雨渡 II (4’10”) – erhu, cello, marimba 
  • Rainstorm 驟雨行 (2’00”) – erhu & cello
  • Cold Mountain 寒山 (1’10”) – vocal, marimba, zheng, cello, suspended cymbal, tuned gongs
  • Circling II 迴旋 II (1’30”) – marimba, erhu, cello
  •  Walking Through the Clouds 雲中漫步 (2’30”)  – water gongs, “swing” cymbal, cello, erhu, marimba
  • Chasing 追逐 (1’00”) – dagu (big Chinese drum), tanggu (small Chinese drum), cello, erhu, tam tam
  • Awakening 悟 (1’00”) – marimba, erhu, cello, suspended cymbal
  • Celestial River 天河 (4’20”) – marimba, zheng, vocal

Weaver Woman Suite was commissioned by Tomoe Arts Society for its dance theatre production Weaver Woman (2015), inspired by Korean writer O Chŏng-Hŭi’s 1970 short story, also named Weaver Woman. O’s writing tells the story of a woman struggling from lost love and traditional values and reaching self transformation. Although making references to the well known Asian legend of Weaver Woman, this contemporary short novel is completely different from the ancient love story. This series of compositions and improvisation is dedicated to Colleen Lanki, the producer and creator of Weaver Woman and the late artistic director of the Tomoe Arts Society. 

Celestial Bridge《鵲橋》– Lan Tung (2015), lyrics by Qin, Shaoyou (1049—1100)
纖云弄巧，               Skillfully weaving the clouds
飛星傳恨，               Shooting stars deliver my sadness
銀漢迢迢暗度。        Travel discreetly from far away across the Celestial River
金風玉露一相逢，    We meet again, accompanied by golden wind and jade dew
便胜卻人間無數。    This moment is more precious than hundreds of years on earth
柔情似水，               Gentle love like water
佳期如夢，               Our short time together is like a dream
忍顧鵲橋歸路？        How can I bare to look back at the Magpie Bridge as we part again?
兩情若是久長時，    True love lasts for the eternity
又豈在朝朝暮暮。    Even if we can not be together everyday
~ 宋代秦少游《鵲橋仙》

Cold Mountain《寒山》－ Lan Tung (2014), lyrics by lüqiu, Yin (approx 725~830)
杳杳寒山道，     The secluded path to Cold Mountain
落落冷澗濱。     Travels along glacial streams
極目兮長望，     Boundless the world to sight!
白雲四茫茫。     White clouds gather and billow
天高不可問，     Massive cliffs, who knows how high?
疊帳不知重。     Peak rises above peak
碧澗泉水清，     Clear water shimmers like crystal
寒山月華白。     The moon shines silver light
更觀塵世外，     Gazing down towards the land of dust,
夢境復何為。     What is that world of dreams to me?
~  闾丘胤《寒山詩集》

Celestial River 《天河》－ Lan Tung (2015), lyrics by Fan, Yun (451-503)
盈盈一水邊，   Next to the shimmering water
夜夜空自憐。   Embrace my loneliness every night 
不辭精衛苦，   I am not afraid of Jingwei’s hardship 
河流未可填。   But the Celestial River can never be filled with stones
寸情百重结，   Tying hundreds of knots in my heart 
一心萬處懸。   A heart hung over ten thousand places
願作双青鳥，   Wishing us to be a pair of Green Birds
共舒明鏡前。   Seeing our reflections in the clear mirror
~ 南朝范雲《望織女詩》

Orchid Ensemble 蘭韻樂團
Lan Tung 董籃 – erhu 二胡 & vocals 演唱
Dailin Hsieh 謝岱霖 – zheng 古箏
Jonathan Bernard – percussion 打擊樂
with special guests Bo Peng 彭波 – cello 大提琴 (tracks 1-3) & Peggy Lee – cello (Weaver Woman Suite)

Tracks 2 & 3 – traditional Chinese music arranged by Lan Tung
Tracks 4, 6, 9, 11 – improvised compositions by the musicians
All other tracks composed by Lan Tung

Producers: Lan Tung 董籃 & Jonathan Bernard
Engineer: Jay O’Keeffe & Marc L’Esperance
Mastered by Marc L’Esperance
Recorded at Farm Studios, Vancouver
Percussion overdubs recorded at Heavy Sonic World Headquarters, Vancouver
Artwork & Calligraphy: Li Tung 董籬
Graphic Design & Layout: Lan Tung
Photography: Nenad Stevanovic
released in 2024 with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts