APPLE
CHANG
THE UNKNOWN BIRD
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Setting a poem by British poet Edward Thomas, The Unknown Bird portrays the delicate beauty of the verse through elaborate melodic lines. Transported by a three-notes motif, developed and expanded within soprano’s line and trio, the music mirrors 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.
The Unknown Bird
Invisible, transcendent,
the three notes of the bird’s song,
soft, exquisite, ethereal—
only a poet can hear it.
The beech wood, native to southern England,
rooted in the poet’s love and deep devotion to his homeland.
The delicate words sketching its spread
are a defense of nature,
protecting the countryside from the ravages of war,
a genuine and sincere vow.
During World War I, the poet Edward Thomas chose to enlist,
and sacrificed his life on the battlefield.
All of this solidified my determination
to compose this poem into music.
Thus, I sought these three notes,
gently flowing through the piano, violin, cello,
and the soulful voice of the soprano.
Following the divine voice of nature,
I sought to convey its ethereal and priceless essence,
etching the subtle bird’s song and its shadow,
the weight of emotions it carries behind its silence:
An indescribable abstract intertwining of joy and sorrow,
the inner conflict and contradiction behind the choice to fight,
the song of nature,
immeasurable by earthly standards,
flowing into the material world,
the poet’s confusion and longing for understanding,
and the yearning for life, freedom of the spirit, and release.
Every note, every chord, every strand of melody,
is a tribute to the voices of those fearless,
undaunted, yet unrepentant,
a century later, in the deepest reverence.
無影無蹤
三顆音符的鳥鳴 婉轉、唯美、靈透
只有詩人能聽見
山毛櫸 被列為英國南部本地物種
也根植於詩人對國土的熱愛與深情
文字細膩刻畫的蔓延
是保護自然鄉野免受戰爭摧殘的捍衛與真摯
一戰時期 詩人Edward Thomas 選擇參軍
於戰場上犧牲生命
這一切 成全決心為此詩譜曲的堅定
於是 我找尋這三個音符
繾綣流轉於鋼琴、小提琴、大提琴
以及女高音的靈魂嗓音
循著天籟
轉達大自然空靈與無價的內蘊
並鐫刻虛無縹緲的鳥啼與身影背後
所承載的沈重之情：
無以言喻的抽象、快樂與悲傷的交纏模糊
是選擇參戰背後內心的糾結與矛盾
是大自然難以世間準則衡量且流於物化的謳歌
是詩人難以被理解的自我困惑與寄託
也是渴望生活與心靈自由的馳騁與解脫
每顆音、每付和弦、每縷旋律
是對戰爭下，這些無畏、無懼卻也無憾的聲音
在一個世紀後最深的致敬
The Unknown Bird
By Edward Thomas (1878–1917)
Three lovely notes he whistled, too soft to be heard
If others sang; but others never sang
In the great beech-wood all that May and June.
No one saw him: I alone could hear him
Though many listened. Was it but four years
Ago? or five? He never came again.
Oftenest when I heard him I was alone,
Nor could I ever make another hear.
La-la-la! he called, seeming far-off—
As if a cock crowed past the edge of the world,
As if the bird or I were in a dream.
Yet that he travelled through the trees and sometimes
Neared me, was plain, though somehow distant still
He sounded. All the proof is—I told men
What I had heard.
I never knew a voice,
Man, beast, or bird, better than this. I told
The naturalists; but neither had they heard
Anything like the notes that did so haunt me,
I had them clear by heart and have them still.
Four years, or five, have made no difference. Then
As now that La-la-la! was bodiless sweet:
Sad more than joyful it was, if I must say
That it was one or other, but if sad
'Twas sad only with joy too, too far off
For me to taste it. But I cannot tell
If truly never anything but fair
The days were when he sang, as now they seem.
This surely I know, that I who listened then,
Happy sometimes, sometimes suffering
A heavy body and a heavy heart,
Now straightway, if I think of it, become
Light as that bird wandering beyond my shore.
New York Recording Session
Left｜Composer Apple Chang 張紅蘋
Right | Violinist Eugene Drucker
Conductor｜Jackson McKinnon
Photos by Yu-Yu Chen
PROGRAM NOTES
The poet Edward Thomas (1878–1917) conveyed his deep love for England and its natural landscape through his poetry, driven by a desire to protect both from the destructive forces of war. Despite his internal conflict, he ultimately chose to enlist, sacrificing his life to defend the land and nature he cherished, leaving his writings as a poignant testament to his devotion.
Setting “The Unknown Bird” to music, the work portrays the inherited meaning and nuanced inflections through contemplative writing and elaborate melodic lines. From the first passage to the final phrase, the music is subtly transported by a three-note motif, developed and expanded within the soprano’s line and piano trio, mirroring the first phrase and symbolic depth embedded within the verse. Infused with poetic sensibilities, the song finds its voice in the delicate orchestration in harmony with contemporary innovation and classical sonorities, evoking an ethereal atmosphere, while bearing the emotional gravity beneath.
By carving the instrumental capabilities and rich expressivity of violin, cello and piano, as well as the soulfulness and essential timbres of soprano’s voice, the piece weaves a sonic tapestry, flowing in an intricate interweaving of interlaced lines, enriched with symphonic syntax and spatial depth. In order to capture nature’s heritage and philosophical vision through the poet’s eyes and inner heart, the work blends British poetry with classical nuance and Eastern aesthetics, cultivating a distinctive sonic texture and cultural resonance. In this dialogue, the song delves into the layered perspectives and spiritual essence inherent in the verse. Through the synthesis of versatile approaches, the work stands as a tribute to the fearless and unrepentant voices of Edward Thomas—voices of both private introspection and a collective yearning for transcendence amid turmoil.
THE UNKNOWN BIRD
INSTRUMENTATION
For Soprano and Piano Trio
DURATION
17:30
▎Artists
Conductor｜Jackson McKinnon
Soprano｜Sarah Frei
Violinist｜Eugene Drucker
Pianist｜Richarlita You
Cellist｜Ken James Kubota
▎Recording
Engineers｜Hsiao-Chin Lin, Szu-Yu Lin, Wei Wang
Recording Engineer｜Wei Wang
Mixers｜Hsiao-Chin Lin, Szu-Yu Lin
Mastering Engineers｜Hsiao-Chin Lin, Szu-Yu Lin
Immersive Audio Engineers｜Hsiao-Chin Lin, Szu-Yu Lin
Balance Engineers｜Li-Chin Chang, Jai-Shing Lin
Mix Assistants｜Ian Chen, Li-Hsing Ou
Second Engineer｜Jai-Shing Lin
Digital Editing｜Li-Chin Chang
★ The Unknown Bird is featured on Apple Chang’s debut composition album Blossom—winner of Best Art Music Album at the 2025 Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music (GMATAM)—with nominations for Best Producer and Best Recording.
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