Author Preface
Love is the wellspring of art; always encouraging a composer’s spirit to search the cultural root of his soul.
I was born in southern Taiwan, in the city of Kao-Hsiung. There were areas of undeveloped farmland. I used to play marbles, trade playing cards, cook yam and catch crickets among the rice field with my friends. Among the games we play, folk songs such as Expecting Spring Wind, Repairing the Broken Net, and Night Flower in Rain were sung and hummed. The melodies of theses folk songs are quite beautiful and haunting. It wasn’t until I was much older did I understand the true meaning of the words. Also, due to my love for the music popularized post-Japanese occupation, I started to read all books related to Taiwanese culture in order to heighten my understanding of Taiwanese history, culture and its value.
In my younger day, Christianity became the cornerstone in my professional development. The massive amount of hymns that I’ve sung and have been exposed to has a profound influence on my compositions. I started writing choral quartet and have expanded dramatically till now, I am writing concerto for different instruments. At the same time my interest in Taiwanese value and culture increased and I found new topic and theme for my music through the culture. I realized that in the twenty-first century, Taiwanese society has gone through a quiet, yet dramatic cultural change. It has transformed itself from an antiquated rural society into a modernized industrial one. Technology has become the fact of life and has also become a force in Taiwanese society.
The manifestation of talents and gifts spark the color of life, compounding the artist’s reverence and gratefulness of God.
Under the revolutionary ideals brought on by the technological advancement, some welcome the challenge, working on creating new life sustaining resources while others choose to stick to what they know best; staying on the side line witnessing the transformation the Taiwanese society is going through. As for me, no matter how the Taiwanese society changes, my little “cedar tree” will do my best to grow. With the grace that comes from God and a steadfast faith in His promises, this little “cedar tree” will become fruitful. I’d like to end this with Psalm 1:2-3. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” May all Taiwanese live in peace, may we use “love” to develop the beautiful island that is our home, Formosa.
With the publication of this album, I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Tyzen Hsiao, a renowned musician, for his accolades and prologue. I always want to extend heart felt gratitude to pastor Suigii Liu, an international renowned contemporary artist, for his contribution to the illustration. Finally, I would give big thanks to Dr. Jane Liang for her elegant translation.
Contents
1・福爾摩莎我的愛 8
Formosa My Love
2・西仔灣之戀 13
The Love of Western Bay
3・媽媽的笑容 18
Mother’s Smile
4・灌肚白仔 21
Catching Crickets
5・台灣旅客 25
The Traveler of Taiwan
6・福爾摩莎彩虹的夢 31
The Dream of Rainbow of Formosa
7・妳是我心中最美的花 37
You Are The Most Beautiful Flower in My Heart
8・感謝妳的愛 45
Thank You For Your Love
9・台灣最美 49
The Most Beautiful Formosa
10・今夜，我要唱一首歌 54
I’ll Sing a Song Tonight
【樂曲解説】 By :作曲者親自詮釋 60
Donated by Bach Ying-Chun Wu
Posted on 07/2019
