In memory of late Taiwanese composer Tyzen Hsiao (蕭泰然), the Taiwan Music Institute will be organizing two concerts at the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center in Taipei on March 7 and 8 to commemorate maestro Hsiao's legacy and the fifth year of his passing.
The first concert on March 7 is called "The Angel from Formosa" and will feature large-scale compilations of Hsiao's masterpieces from various music genres.
Hsiao's alma mater, National Taiwan Normal University's Department of Music, was invited to stage the concert and the music selection was curated by NTNU's own Viola Chamber Music Department Chair Yang Jui-se (楊瑞瑟). Internationally renowned conductors Apo Hsu Ching-hsin (許瀞心) and Chen Li-fen (陳麗芬) will serve as conductors respectively for the symphony orchestra and mixed choir.
The concert repertoire will feature classic Hsiao works including his "SoLi for Percussion," "How Lovely is your Dwelling Place (祢居住的所在)," "Lift Thine Eyes (我欲舉目向山)," "The Sojourner (出外人)," and "Cello Concerto in C minor Op.52 (C調大提琴協奏曲)."
In addition, the lovely orchestral set "The Angel from Formosa (來自福爾摩沙的天使)" and the orchestral and choir composition piece "Ilha Formosa: Requiem for Formosa's Martyrs (啊！福爾摩沙–為殉難者的鎮魂曲)" will also be performed.
On March 8, the second concert titled "Nostalgic Thoughts from Home (來自故鄉的思念)" will revisit Hsiao's piano and chamber music pieces. Pianist Lina Yeh (葉綠娜), a long-time collaborator and friend of Hsiao, was invited to curate and perform in this event.
Taiwan Music Institute Director Weng Chih-tsung (翁誌聰) emphasized that many critically acclaimed musicians were invited to perform, including pianist Rolf-Peter Wille (魏樂富), violinists Su Shien-ta (蘇顯達) and Lin Yi-hsin (林一忻), violist He Jun-heng (何君恆, Chen-hung Ho), cellist Liu Chu-chuan (劉姝嫥), flutist Christine Yu (游雅慧), clarinetist William Chen Wei-leng (陳威稜), bassoonist Hsu Chia-chu (徐家駒), and percussionist Devin Lin (林東毅).
In addition to performing Hsiao's compositions, there will also be the premiere of "Flying (飛翔)" by Hsiao's close friend, acclaimed composer Ken Chuang (莊傳賢). "Flying" will be combined with a multimedia presentation that was created through post-production technology to demonstrate Hsiao's love for the land and people of Taiwan.
The Taiwan Music Institute will also hold a series of talks to accompany its upcoming exhibition — "Vagabond Homecoming: A Memorial Exhibition of Taiwanese Composer Tyzen Hsiao" — to commend his lifelong contributions to Taiwanese music and offer new perspectives on his works and life.
‘Memorial Concerts of Tyzen Hsiao’
Venue: Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center
Address: No. 751 Wenlin Rd., Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
The Angel from Formosa: March 7, 2020 at 7:30pm
Nostalgic Thoughts from Home: March 8, 2020 at 7:30pm
‘Vagabond Homecoming – A Memorial Exhibition of Taiwan Composer Tyzen Hsiao’
Date: Feb. 24 – Aug. 30, 2020
Venue: Taiwan Music Institute, 3F
Address: No. 751, Wenlin Rd., Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
Hours: 10am – 6pm (Closed on Mondays)
Site: https://www.ncfta.gov.tw/cultureevent_31_2779.html