Moon Beyond the White Clouds
4 Songs to translations of Chinese poems - 2002
Wang Wei, Li Po and Chang Chiu-ling

duration 8 minutes

1. Distant Bell
2. The Man of the Mountains
3. Drinking Alone
4. Looking at the Moon and Thinking of One Far Away

Translations of poems appeal, placing the integrity of the original at one remove and perhaps giving scope for more legitimately combining a musical element.

This cycle followed quickly after Sappho Songs, but is very different in character, with a clearer cut sound world, whether delicate and crystaline as in the first song, bold and monumental in the second, somewhat anarchic in the drunken third, or overtly melodic in the last.

However, in common is the subject matter of reflection, reminiscence and the pain of separation.

Sadly, this cycle remains unperformed, despite interest from a number of singers. There is thus no recording available on this website.

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