Dennis Wu: Three Bagatelles
for viola and piano| I | Kyrie eleison | Listen |
| II | Et incarnatus est | Listen |
| III | Dona nobis pacem | Listen |
This set of Three Bagatelles for viola solo and piano spanned through various stages of my adolescence, though in my regards, they all have unique and unified style and musical language. This occasion is the première of these bagatelles as a set.
Three Bagatelles can be said as my most important religious work; however, these works are not intended for liturgical use (and can't be said "sacred" at all) - the works are sombre and humane. They are on one human's meditation, on vulnerability, passivity and incomprehensibility. Partial texts from Ordo Missae are main source of inspiration, and they often prompted for the structure of individual pieces.
The first bagatelle is written between 2000 and 2001, spanning eleven months from the first note to the last. The music tried to depict the man in desperation that no prayer can be said, except murmuring repeatedly. The sensuous music was described, after the première, as "too dark for any joy to seep through." The viola and piano holds a close relationship of symbiosis, twistingly living together.
The second bagatelle is written in 2003. From Symbolum Nicenum, I chose Et incarnatus est as the key belief. In the music, this faith is sounded as a puzzle: the melody is wandering nowhere; the harmony is too ambiguous to tell; the identity of themes are hidden and reduced. So as the liturgy prompted, the incarnation is a journey of salvation and pain.
The third bagatelle is written in 1999. Dona nobis pacem, as the last phrase of the Agnus Dei, is chosen as a resonance of the never-ending quest; though, the eternal peace is always granted with no intervention of human effort. In this troubled mind, I wrote Dona nobis pacem. The music is featured by wrestle of piano and viola in cross-rhythms.
Recording and Performer
This recording is recorded live at Lee Hysan Concert Hall on February 18, 2003.
Ng Wah-hei, viola
Currently an undergraduate student, Year 2, in the Music Department of the CUHK, Ng Wah-hei was born with his self-motivated musical fantasy which has been cultivated through life-long learning in the musical field since his early years, mainly through learning the piano and violin. He has been performing with a number of local orchestras, including the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, in countries all over the world gaining remarkable experience and a broad vision. He is also a composer and studying with Prof. Chan Wing Wah.
Siu Tin-chi, piano
Siu Tin-chi was born Hong Kong, 1982, and migrated to Macau. Interested in music in her early childhood, she started her piano lesson at 8 and clarinet lesson at 13, and soon she was promoted to clarinet principal in school orchestra. She is now year 3 student of the Music Department of CUHK, following Dr. Mary Wu, artist-in-residence of the University to study piano, the renowned clarinetist Mr. Martin Choy to study clarinet and Prof. Chan Wing Wah to study composition.
Siu Tin Chi gradutaed from Colegio Diocesano de Sao Jose in 2000 and admitted into Conservatory of Macau. She was awarded 1996, 1997 and 1999 champion of Competition for Young Musicians of Macau clarinet classes. In 2000, she won the prestigious award of Honorary Winner of Advanced Class of Competition on compositions by Macau composers, playing Doming Lam's Lamentations of Lady Chiu-Jun.
Première
Dona nobis pacem
Performers: Jeanne Chiu, Viola. Eos Cheng , Piano.
Sha Tin Town Hall, Hong Kong. June 13, 1999.
Kyrie eleison
Performers: Woody Wu, Viola. Siu Tin-chi, Piano.
Lee Hysan Concert Hall, Chinese University of Hong Kong. October 3, 2001.
Et incarnatus est
Performers: Ng Wah-hei, Viola. Siu Tin-chi, Piano.
Lee Hysan Concert Hall, Chinese University of Hong Kong. February 18, 2003.