Sheung-Ping Lai

Blending the sounds and characteristics of two distinct and totally contrasting musical ensembles together smoothly to achieve a cross-cultural harmony is the main goal behind this composition.  For me, Wuji Ensemble represents a unique beauty of elegance, subtlety and freedom of contemporary Chinese musical expression. MO-MEN-T, on the other hand, represents the earthiness and funkiness of contemporary jazz.  I am mesmerized by both sound worlds. Therefore, I try to put them together and see what happens.

 

In this work, WUJI often plays slower passages with much rhythmic freedom. In contrast, MO-MENT-I plays in faster tempi with tight Latin rhythm and sophisticated harmony. Despite the big contrast, both groups share similar melodic ideas which are inter-related and accumulative during the piece. The two groups start as separate entities, then gradually interact with each other and blend with each other during the episodes, until two groups become one group.

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The main theme is a 12-bar modal blues. The episodes are more extended and more elaborated each time. Two types of improvisation: Chinese melodic improvisation and jazz chord improvisation are utilized. A collective improvisation passage involving all players leads to the return of the main theme. A cross-cultural harmony is finally achieved with joy.