MUSIC

Liu Yao Jin Program Notes Rory Knott

This piece was inspired by my Grandfather’s photo of the willow trees by the ponds in the
Botanical Gardens in Singapore in 1947. Our family has close connections with Singapore.
My grandparents lived there in the 1940s and returned with my mother and her two siblings
in the 1960s. My parents returned with me for six years from 2005. The libretto for this piece
contains three stanzas which represent three vignettes.
Stanza A is a musical representation of my grandfather’s photo. Stanza B is a metaphor for
intergenerational connection to a place. Ripples flowing, as if generations are ripples on a
pond coming and going but always returning. Stanza C was inspired by Pulau Ubin Wayang
Opera Stage. The last phrase is a metaphor questioning a possible return to Singapore.
Stanza A
willow, ah ah tree brushes sa
willow sticky heat, branches shaking golden leaves
Stanza B
ripples flowing
across time and land
lightly painting water
Stanza C
voices echo from the village stage
trickling waters full of carp
willow when will I see you again

I took inspiration for the introduction theme from the Liu Yao Jin 柳搖金 Qupai melody,
transcribed and later trans-notated from Gongche notation by Jean Amiot during his time in
China in 1734. It is an example of instrumental Qupai or ‘labelled melody’.
There are three percussionists with instruments that are traditionally found in Gezai opera
which is one of the main genres of opera performed in Singapore. Gezai opera has been in
decline in Singapore in recent decades, due to the younger generations favoring the use of
Mandarin as opposed to Hokkien.