thenameisgsarci | Bobby C. H. Huen (禤閑樂) - "Chat Texts" for baritone, synthesizer and strings (audio + sheet music) @thenameisgsarci | Uploaded 1 year ago | Updated 1 day ago
Being a Hong Kong composer, Bobby is currently a Bmus candidate in Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU), Australia. His composition journey began at the young age of 14, and he first received proper training during high school under APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards Finalist Harry Sdraulig. He was later awarded finalist for Richard Gill Commemorative Award in 2019. Bobby is currently under the guidance of QCGU’s head of composition, Dr. Gerardo Dirié, and his music have received multiple performances. This includes, but not limited to his piano work “Four Lyrical Pieces”, which was featured as repertoire for final recital of QCGU piano department in 2020. While his chamber work “The Spirits of Teas”, was programmed in the Queensland Youth Orchestras’ 2021 Chamber Ensembles concert in The Old Museum.
To described Bobby’s aesthetics, the term “Natural Beauty” will be best suited. His style is highly inspired by the Taoism philosophy of “wu wei” (inaction/ effortless) and “zi ran” (natural), which he had come across in the process of learning Chinese calligraphy. Hence, his work was often drawn from materials from daily life, as well as exploring the idea of “beauty of imperfection” via heading towards boundaries of “conventional sounds”.
Same as many of my other works, the Chat Texts begins with a random discussion with some friends on the idea of “randomness”, which eventually leaded us to discuss the possibilities of the use of lyrics in music. As I have always be looking for texts that are “meaningful” or “purposeful”, while are keepable to demonstrate a new level of creativity, my attention was immediately drawn to the chaotic debates and chit-chatting through texts messages among my social groups from social medias. The text are either something I found ridiculous, or unarguably persuasive. Nonetheless I decided to depict my entire experience on witnessing the process of people shooting out their most random and directionless voices via music. As a side note, the work was originally scored with a harp, but I eventually decided to replace it with a synthesizer sound effect. Not only it could reinforce, hence to enhance the work’s nonsensical nature, it also offers more freedom in comparison to the harp with its limitations regarding to the use of extended chromaticism.
(from the composer's own words)
Please take note that the audio AND sheet music ARE NOT mine. Feel free to change the video quality to a minimum of 480p for the best watching experience.
Performers: Camilo Lopez (Baritone), Julia Zhu (keyboard), Sola Hughes and Julia Hill (violins 1), Georgina Brindley and Robert Smith (violins 2), Jeremy Egerton (viola), Daniel Shearer and Francesca Masel (violoncellos), Amelia Cherry (double bass), Julian Duthoit (conductor)
(youtu.be/QUqZgyGLr58)
Composer's channel: youtube.com/@bobbyhuen
Being a Hong Kong composer, Bobby is currently a Bmus candidate in Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU), Australia. His composition journey began at the young age of 14, and he first received proper training during high school under APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards Finalist Harry Sdraulig. He was later awarded finalist for Richard Gill Commemorative Award in 2019. Bobby is currently under the guidance of QCGU’s head of composition, Dr. Gerardo Dirié, and his music have received multiple performances. This includes, but not limited to his piano work “Four Lyrical Pieces”, which was featured as repertoire for final recital of QCGU piano department in 2020. While his chamber work “The Spirits of Teas”, was programmed in the Queensland Youth Orchestras’ 2021 Chamber Ensembles concert in The Old Museum.
To described Bobby’s aesthetics, the term “Natural Beauty” will be best suited. His style is highly inspired by the Taoism philosophy of “wu wei” (inaction/ effortless) and “zi ran” (natural), which he had come across in the process of learning Chinese calligraphy. Hence, his work was often drawn from materials from daily life, as well as exploring the idea of “beauty of imperfection” via heading towards boundaries of “conventional sounds”.
Same as many of my other works, the Chat Texts begins with a random discussion with some friends on the idea of “randomness”, which eventually leaded us to discuss the possibilities of the use of lyrics in music. As I have always be looking for texts that are “meaningful” or “purposeful”, while are keepable to demonstrate a new level of creativity, my attention was immediately drawn to the chaotic debates and chit-chatting through texts messages among my social groups from social medias. The text are either something I found ridiculous, or unarguably persuasive. Nonetheless I decided to depict my entire experience on witnessing the process of people shooting out their most random and directionless voices via music. As a side note, the work was originally scored with a harp, but I eventually decided to replace it with a synthesizer sound effect. Not only it could reinforce, hence to enhance the work’s nonsensical nature, it also offers more freedom in comparison to the harp with its limitations regarding to the use of extended chromaticism.
(from the composer's own words)
Please take note that the audio AND sheet music ARE NOT mine. Feel free to change the video quality to a minimum of 480p for the best watching experience.
Performers: Camilo Lopez (Baritone), Julia Zhu (keyboard), Sola Hughes and Julia Hill (violins 1), Georgina Brindley and Robert Smith (violins 2), Jeremy Egerton (viola), Daniel Shearer and Francesca Masel (violoncellos), Amelia Cherry (double bass), Julian Duthoit (conductor)
(youtu.be/QUqZgyGLr58)
Composer's channel: youtube.com/@bobbyhuen
