Dust Devil for chamber orchestra (2018)

​A dust devil is a relatively harmless whirlwind. Its size generally ranges from small (half a meter wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than 10 meters wide and 1000 meters tall), and it rarely comes close to the intensity of a tornado. It forms as a swirling updraft under sunny conditions during fair weather. This kind of small whirlwind can also form when carrying snow, fire, steam, etc.
 
The music is directly inspired by dust devils. It features upward motions and cascading gestures that abstractly portrays the forming and motion of such phenomenon. The piece is commissioned by the Hong Kong Composers’ Guild for a premiere with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Contemporary Music Festival 2018: Hong Kong Delights in October of 2018.
 
Dust Devil《沙旋》，是一種相對沒害的旋風。它的尺寸從小（半米寬，幾米高）到大（寬10多米，高1000米）不等，卻很少能接近龍捲風的強度。它在晴朗天氣和陽光充足的條件下會形成一個旋轉的上升氣流。這種小旋風也可以在攜帶雪，火，蒸汽等時形成。
 
本曲子直接受到這現象的啟發，音樂裡充斥著往上層疊的紋理，抽像地描繪了沙旋的形成和活動。本作品由香港作曲家聯會委託，於二零一八年十月由香港城市室樂團在「香港當代音樂節2018：樂在香港」首演。

(07/25/2021)

* click here to return to Large Ensemble