Wail – 問天

for orchestra
ca. 4’00”

Wail – 問天 (2020) is an orchestra piece inspired by the countless episodes of sadness and anger that I have experienced both in myself and the people around me, be it in real life, through media, or otherwise. These primal emotions, which perhaps are the most immediate and unconscious responses to the happenings around us, have the potential to allow introspection and fuel change. However, when managed poorly, these emotions also run the risk of causing unproductivity and deep psychological trauma. These feelings play such an important role in personal and collective growth that we must remember how powerful they can be — our visceral experience of the world is as important and worth our attention as an intellectual or logical reading of it.

This piece is divided into two sections. The first section, with its lush, wailing harmonies and sentimental melodies, represents sadness, while the second section, with its violent, explosive power and sharp, intense attacks, represents anger.

Wail – 問天 was written for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, as part of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Composers Scheme.

Performances:

04 Jun 2022 (world premiere)
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Composers Scheme
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra; Fayçal Karoui, conductor