Dunhuang Fantasy

The work was commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for the Biennial National Convention in Seattle, Washington, in July 2000, and was premiered by Ms. Kimberly Marshall as Organ soloist, and the Rainier Chamber Winds, conducted by its director Kathleen MacFerran. It is scored for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Contrabassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion and solo Organ.

The imagination of this music came from the figures in the murals carved in the Mogao Caves in the ancient city Dunhuang more than a thousand years ago. The name "Dunhuang" originally meant "prospering, flourishing." Lying at the western end of the Gansu Corridor in China, Dunhuang was very important in the Silk Road that carried new thoughts, ideas, arts and sciences to the East and West in history. The Mogao Grottoes were built and developed during 11 dynasties over more than 1,000 years (from the 4th to the 14th centuries), with murals, sculptures, wooden cave buildings and books. It was really the heyday of the art of Dunhuang in the brilliant Tang Dynasty (618-907). Have you looked at those pictures? There are rolling dance gestures, the flapping streamer lines, the flying melodies around the clouds, and the fiery rhythms in the sky! It shows the high spirit and the strong power of the people and their society. All these impressions are translated into the textures of my organ solo part and the wind ensemble sound. It's mysterious, vivid, colorful and energetic, it brings us to dream of the ancient glory and yearn for the future flourish...