The five pieces explores diverse and innovative formats, including three instrumental works — Sakura Rain, The Geisha, and Silk Road Fantasy — along with two vocal works — The Unknown Bird and The Cloud, set the poetry of British poets Edward Thomas and Percy Bysshe Shelley for voice and piano trio. Each piece possesses a distinct and vivid identity, yet they are intricately connected through a cohesive artistic narrative, with motifs evolving through variations in lyrical texture and structural development.

 

Interlaced with a subtle three-note cell, symbolizing the three syllables of “sa-ku-ra,” Sakura Rain breathes with a profound ethos and timeless grace. In crafting instrumental gestures and the exquisiteness of the Koto repertoire traditions, the work weaves a singular dialogue within the orchestral texture, honoring steadfast love amid historical upheavals and wartime, like the bloom and fall of sakura—brief yet radiant. Rooted in the miyako-bushi scale, The Geisha thrives in the collision of cultural elements, blending classical instruments with traditional geisha performance music. Infused with a sobbing tune, the piece conveys a reflective portrayal of both the dance and the soul within, paying tribute to this unique culture and to those who have lived as geisha throughout history. Silk Road Fantasy opens with the sonorous voice of solo double bass, conjuring the unbridled imagery across this historical path and the free-spirited embrace of life. By exploring the strings’ agility and expression, the work sculpts a landscape of spiritual and folk-like colors, honoring the rich culture and the travelers who once journeyed along its route.
 

In The Unknown Bird, the music portrays the delicate beauty of the verse through elaborate melodic lines. Transported by a three-note motif, developed and expanded within soprano’s line and trio, the music echoes the first phrase and symbolic depth embedded within the poem, evoking an ethereal atmosphere, while bearing the weight of the emotions beneath—a tribute to fearless, unrepentant voices. In "The Cloud," Percy Bysshe Shelley encapsulates the eternal cycle of nature, where transformation and renewal are constant, yet the essence remains indestructible. Setting “The Cloud” to music, the work channels the soul back to the universe, concluding the eternal cycle of nature. Building upon the harmonic rhythm and expansive flow of the trio and soprano-mezzo duet, its lyrical episodes unfold with dramatic intensity, reflecting those whose souls transform in form, yet whose essence endures.