Silk Road Bimonthly 090
From its inception up to 1984, the Taipei Chinese Orchestra (TCO) gathered compositions through a call-for-entries approach. In 1984, Director CHEN Tscheng-Hsiung entrusted TUNG Yung-Shen with composing The Overture of Huaxia's Radiance. This piece debuted at the Taipei Arts Festival, and became the pioneering event in what has become the long tradition of commissioned works for the orchestra. In 1987, with the inauguration of the National Concert Hall, LO Leung-Fai was invited to craft The Festivity Overture, which remains a celebrated classic to this day. Since the founding of TCO, commissioning new compositions has been one of its core endeavors, as it continually strives to foster innovation in Chinese music. As we enter the 2023/24 season, we continue to embrace our enduring philosophy and actively advance the TCO Composition Project. Given Taiwan's diverse socio-cultural landscape, the TCO Composition Project launched at the end of 2021 is divided into three distinct sub-themes: Original Dance Music, Sounds of Formosa, and Stories of Taipei City. The Original Dance Music series draws primary inspiration from materials related to Taiwan's indigenous peoples. The upcoming season will debut LI Yuan-Chen’s new piece, The Trail Head a Note to a Fieldtrip in Shakadang, and LIN Tsen-Ling's Sea Offering. With changing societal perspectives, the intellectual property rights associated with the traditional wisdom of indigenous peoples cannot be overlooked. Modern-day composers must approach this with gravity, engaging in meticulous fieldwork, learning, and firsthand experiences, ensuring creations are birthed from mutual respect and understanding. Crafting Original Dance Music might be more daunting than anticipated, being that it is not merely a derivative work but an intricate cultural translation and cooperative act. Sounds of Formosa and Stories of Taipei City illuminate Taiwan and Taipei's natural landscapes and rich cultural tapestry. Through these musical narratives, the Taiwanese are drawn closer to their homeland's essence, and the orchestra also showcases Taiwan's distinctiveness on global platforms, amplifying Taiwan's voice. In 2022, the “Invocation” concert, led by CHIEN Wen-Pin, garnered a nomination in the 21st Taishin Arts Award's fourth season. The nominator, CHEN Yi-Chen, highlighted several pieces inspired by local beliefs and traditions, such as LIN Tsen-Ling's The Blasting of Master Handan, YEN Ming-Hsiu's The Legend of Yimin for Labaxian and Chinese Orchestra, and Ryan Zen's Romantic God of Love. These compositions seamlessly meld traditional musical elements with modern sensibilities. Particularly remarkable is a piece crafted for the labaxian—an almost forgotten instrument, now vivaciously revived and presented to the broader musical audience. Crafting Chinese musical compositions that truly capture Taiwan's unique essence has become a significant topic in the music community over the past decade, influenced by increased international exchanges and a heightened sense of identity. To this end, the TCO has undertaken several initiatives. In 2013, under the leadership of Director ZHONG Yao-Guang, the Taipei Map project was initiated. He invited 12 composers and directors to create music and micro-films for each of Taipei's 12 administrative districts. Then, in 2017, Director CHENG Li-Pin introduced the “TCO Theater”, assembling a team of directors, composers, and actors, all proudly "Made in Taiwan." Fast forward to 2022, Director CHEN Cheng-Kang led the rediscovery of the traditional Taiwanese instrument, the labaxian. This instrument further provided a fresh interpretation of Taiwanese Chinese Music in terms of its historical roots and instrumental resonance. The ancient Chinese philosopher Xunzi once said, “With persistence, even metal and stone can be carved.” The TCO has certainly embodied such persistence in the long journey of commissioning compositions. Over the past 40 years, under the leadership of various group leaders, music directors and principal conductors and the unyielding efforts of its members, they have successfully premiered over a hundred new Chinese music compositions. They are also recognized as “the orchestra that performed the most Taiwanese compositions.” As the journey of Chinese music creation continues, the new season beckons your exploration. 
![Taiwan.gov.tw [ open a new window]](/images/egov.png)
