On the Wings of a
Butterfly
A new work for dan tranh (Vietnamese zither), medieval psaltery, and two Balinese sulings (end-blown flutes) On the Wings of a Butterfly (mp3, 128 bit/sec file, 10Mb) On the Wings of a Butterfly (mp3, 64 bit/sec file, 5Mb) On the Wings of a Butterfly (Real Player)
Composers' notes: On the wings of a butterfly is a cross cultural composition for
two zithers, the Vietnamese dan tranh played by Le Tuan Hung and the medieval psaltery
played by Ros Bandt. The shimmering and ephemeral life of the butterfly is mirrored in the
evanescent glissandi, harmonics and wing-like textures achieved through the playing of the
strings with feathers. The landscape changes sometimes violently, sometimes slowly as the
butterfly takes us on a sonic journey of ecstatic flight. A new Australian culture emerges
from the exchange of eastern and western musical techniques as they are contrasted,
shared, exchanged and fused in this composition On the wings of a butterfly is a musical manifestation of the
rising spirit of harmonious togetherness of peoples and cultures in Australia. This
togetherness of peoples and cultures is reflected in the collaborative composing process
and the combination of eastern and western musical idioms and instrumental colours to
generate a new Australian work. The flight of a butterfly symbolically represents a
journey to explore the beauty and fragility of human togetherness in the changing social
environment Copyright © 2004 by Ros Bandt and Le Tuan Hung This composition was commissioned by the Australia Asia Foundation with financial assistance from the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. |