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March 2004
On the Wings of a Butterfly
A new work for dan tranh (Vietnamese zither), medieval psaltery, and two Balinese sulings (end-blown flutes) Click here to access sound files Composers' notes:
On the wings of a butterfly is a cross cultural composition for two zithers, the Vietnamese dan tranh played by
Le Tuan Hung and the medieval psaltery played by Ros Bandt. The shimmering and ephemeral life of the butterfly is
mirrored in the evanescent glissandi, harmonics and wing-like textures achieved through the playing of the strings with feathers.
The landscape changes sometimes violently, sometimes slowly as the butterfly takes us on a sonic journey of ecstatic flight.
A new Australian culture emerges from the exchange of eastern and western musical techniques as they are contrasted, shared,
exchanged and fused in this composition
On the wings of a butterfly is a musical reflection on the rising spirit of harmonious
togetherness of peoples and cultures in Australia. This togetherness of peoples and cultures is reflected in
the collaborative composing process and the combination of eastern and western
musical idioms and instrumental colours to generate a new Australian work. The flight
of a butterfly symbolically represents a journey to explore the beauty and fragility of human
togetherness in the changing social environment
All sounds and texts copyright © 2004 by Ros Bandt and Le Tuan Hung This composition was commissioned by the Australia Asia Foundation with financial assistance from the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. |
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