David Griffiths (baritone), New Zealand String Quartet. Recorded by RNZ Concert, 5 October 2013.
Gao Ping is a composer-pianist, born in Chengdu, Sichuan province of China. He studied in the USA in the 1990’s. In demand as a composer, he has received commissions and performances from musicians around the world. Many prestigious venues have presented his work such as the Aspen Music Festival, Dresdener Musikfestspiele, Hibiki Hall Festival (Japan), New Zealand International Arts Festival (Wellington), and the Beijing-Modern International Music Festival. Gao is currently a Professor in Composition at the Conservatory of Music-Capital Normal University as well as a guest professor at the China Conservatory of Music. He previously taught at the University of Canterbury.
"I have been attracted to the profoundly sensual and philosophical world of Mu Xin. The three poems I chose to set are simple and straightforward. But one discovers a wealth of wit and poignancy behind the plainness of the Chinese text. Text Note: Selections from “My Bountiful Desire”, a book of poetry published by Guangxi Normal University Press. English translation generously provided by Luo Hui from Confucius Institute in Wellington, New Zealand My Bountiful Desire On a particularly quiet night My desire grows Falls bountifully On branches and window frames Lip eddy, breast piers, thigh ravine Plains and distant hills, path after path All covered with my desire For the next day It will fall again, bountifully Quieter, larger My desire On Happiness A bird’s life is a happy one Because I think a bird’s Life is happy Resembles a bird at times Happily spent, gone And I will be happy again Even a bird hasn’t been this happy A History of Love A wooden hut Night love Mad love Wind Surf Sound sleep Morning tea Lunch Evening wine Seagulls’ incessant calls Floating clouds Yawn One morning Quietly One leaves, alone Evening The other one Gone with the waves Years later Backpack Footsteps in the sand No hut Remains Here Ocean wind, cold In vain Returns Thin moon Night after night Full moon Dedication: I dedicate this work to Mr. Mu Xin who passed away in Dec. 2011, shortly after the completion of my songs." - Gao Ping
