Journey of the Red Phoenix:

Journey of the Red Phoenix was my first composition for Chinese orchestra. The project was an extraordinary opportunity for me to learn about each traditional Chinese instrument while discovering their sonic and expressive possibilities within an orchestral context. As I was writing this work, I wanted to explore all the possible combinations there were between the instruments while telling a tale that would maintain the listener’s interest. To achieve this, I approached the work as a series of ‘images’ where the music unfolds from one mythical scene to the next. As colorful as each instrument was, it was also important to me that various key players were provided the opportunity to showcase their talents. Thus, various instruments were highlighted in the form of solos, duos, and trios. The general narrative of the work was inspired from a dream I had about a red phoenix: Meeting the wondrous animal and hearing its beautiful song, riding on its back through an enchanting forest while confronting many beasts and creatures along the way, then returning to its home to rest peacefully for the night.

This work was written for the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Taiwan’s National Chinese Orchestra with the generous assistance of the Manitoba Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. I greatly thank composer Tony Leung for his guidance throughout the creation of this piece. This work is dedicated to Maestro Yan Huichang.

丹鳳遨遊　何啟榮曲　（香港中樂團與台灣國樂團共同委作／世界首演）

《丹鳳遨遊》是我第一首為中樂團創作的樂曲。很慶幸得到這個機會，可以認識每一種中國傳統樂器，認識它們可以發出的聲音，並發掘它們在合奏中的表達能力。我創作這首樂曲時，一方面想探索樂器與樂器之間的各種組合可能，另一方面要把故事說得動聽來吸引聽眾的注意。為了達到這些目的，我採用一連串的「意象」，用音樂來闡述一個接一個帶著神話色彩的場面。固然每種樂器的音色都很繽紛，但我覺得讓不同的領奏有展現才技的機會同樣重要，所以用了許多獨奏、二重奏、三重奏等方式，來突顯各種樂器。這首樂曲的靈感來自一場夢。我夢見自己邂逅到一隻丹鳳，牠在唱一首優美的歌，於是我騎在牠的背上，翱翔在一個如夢如幻的樹林間，沿途見到各種珍禽異獸，最後回到牠棲息的地方，悠然度過那個晚上。

此曲是為香港中樂團及臺灣國樂團而作，承蒙曼尼托巴藝術局及加拿大藝術局慷慨贊助。謹將這曲題獻給國樂大師閻惠昌先生。