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Celestial River

The Orchid Ensemble’s 5th CD, Celestial River, features Lan Tung’s eclectic compositions, new arrangements of traditional Chinese melodies, and adventurous improvisations of the musicians, in collaboration with cellists Peggy Lee (Weaver Woman Suite) and Peng Bo (track 1-3).

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.

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
Originally composed for erhu, vocal, zheng, and percussion, premiered at the Orchid Ensemble’s 20th anniversary production of “Music of the Heavens” in Nov 2017 with multimedia projection, this piece uses various meters 6/8, 7/4, 10/8, 11/8. Under the starry sky, an ancient tribe gathered by the fire. The elders told stories from old legends.
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。燦爛的星空下, 隱世而居的部落圍坐營火旁, 白髮蒼蒼的老人為孩子們講述古老的傳奇故事。

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
on the donkey at the front of the caravan
hangs a few dim lamps
the bell on its neck
dangles and rings
the man leading the herd
if you are my beloved, wave your hand
if you are not, keep on going
走頭頭的那個騾子喲哦
三盞盞的那個燈
哎呀帶上的那個鈴子喲
噢哇哇得的那個聲
白脖子的那個哈巴喲哦
朝南得的那個呀
哎呀趕牲靈的那人兒喲
噢 過呀來了
你若是我的哥哥兒喲
招一招你的那個手
你不是我那哥哥喲
走你得的那個路

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》

  • 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 delivering my sadness
銀漢迢迢暗度。       River in the Heaven, far away, quietly crossing
金風玉露一相逢，   Golden wind and jade dew once meet each other
便胜卻人間無數。   It is more joy than hundreds of years on earth
柔情似水，              Gentle love like water
佳期如夢，               The good times are like dreams
忍顧鵲橋歸路？       Look at the Magpie Bridge, which is the way to return to you
兩情若是久長時，   To have this kind of love that lasts for the eternity  
又豈在朝朝暮暮。   Never mind that we can not be together every moment

Cold Mountain《寒山》－Lan Tung (2018), lyrics by lüqiu, Yin (approx 725~830 杳杳寒山道，落落冷澗濱。
極目兮長望，白雲四茫茫。
​​​​​​天高不可問，​​疊帳不知重​​​​​​​​​​​​。
碧澗泉水清，寒山月華白。
更觀塵世外，夢境復何為。
~  選自闾丘胤《寒山詩集》

Celestial River 《天河》
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 not be filled up with stones
寸情百重结，   My heart has hundreds of knots 
一心萬處懸。   A heart that is hung over ten thousand places
願作双青鳥，   I wish that we can be a pair of Green Birds
共舒明鏡前。   See our reflections in the clear mirror
~南朝诗人范雲作《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 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 – improvisation.  
All other pieces are 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 
Cover Artwork & Calligraphy: Li Tung 董籬
Photos: Nenad Stevanovic
Package Design and Booklet Layout: Cover Design: Lan Tung
released in 2024 with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts