It was wonderful to hear Euna Kim and William Lane of Hong Kong New Music Ensemble present the premiere of the revised version of my 2013 violin and viola duo, Incantation, last night at Tai Kwun in Central, Hong Kong. This performance was part of the “Chilled Steps” series in a unique outdoor space. Despite some occasional outdoor noise, the audience sat in rapt attention throughout what was a fine and dramatic performance by Euna and William. What a pleasure!
Due to the setting, this performance was amplified, giving an extra layer of intensity and a haunting timbre within the rather resonant space. In fact, hearing this amplification has caused some sound ideas to emerge in my mind, and I expect an upcoming project may explore amplification in a larger way. Look for details on this new work (hint: neon) in an upcoming post. The HKNME concert also included duos by Hong Kong composers Kai-Young Chan and Stephen Yip. It was great to experience these colorful works in person.