thenameisgsarci | Bobby C. H. Huen (禤閑樂) - "The Spirits of Teas" for chamber ensemble (audio + sheet music) @thenameisgsarci | Uploaded 1 year ago | Updated 8 hours 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”.

Through endowing teas their own personalities, "The Spirits of Teas" metaphorically explores the journey of humanity. All journeys begin with ignorance, which incurs chaos and disaster. However, all will eventually be restored through the development of wisdom, inaugurating a new age ruled by the "wise". Nonetheless, when elitism inevitably emerges, humanity will be driven back to the first stage, ignorance. Thus, the cycle is to be continued, as some of us may have realised.

This provides an insight of the piece’s philosophical concept. Tea has been far more than a daily beverage in my memories from my youth. For me, I associate the teas’ spirits with various colours; this is why I have chosen them to speak through the music on my behalf. However, it is only my childhood memories that have informed their “sprites”; I must dig deeper into my mind if I am to logically explain my choices of metaphor. I was taught that Chrysanthemum was a cheap type of tea, often served to whoever may step into a Yum Cha restaurant, clueless on what to order. Alongside this, Pu’er is the caffeine excessive type which would often give me chaotic nights, not being able to sleep. In contrast, Matcha and Oolong are what I enjoy the most whenever I experience stress; hence, they often remind me of calmness and meditation. As for Souchong, it is a symbol of wealth and power in my eye, probably due to the stereotype of black tea in popular culture. And lastly, as the favorite drink of an arrogant and stubborn family friend who often appears vividly in my memory, I found Shoumei to be the tea of elitism.

(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: Braden Simm (flute/piccolo), Nina Lane (soprano saxophone/alto saxophone), Joshua Rosen (clarinet/bass clarinet), Fionn Vickers (bassoon), Oscar Gill (percussion), Phuong Do (piano/electric keyboard), Eden Annesley (violin I), Luke Hammer (violin II), Caitlin Annesley (viola), Ai Hasegawa (cello), Oliver Muller (conductor)
(youtube.com/watch?v=bmzT2nFQYnw)
Composer's channel: youtube.com/@bobbyhuen