Peace of Mind III

明鏡止水III, 2016

for Orchestra


performed by Academy Symphony Orchestra of The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts


"Peace of Mind" refers to a cultivation of a state of mind, which literally means a clean and bright soul with no distracting thoughts. 

I wish my mind could be as clear as a mirror and as calm as water, facing anything with a tranquil and truthful heart.

This is the third piece in the series of “Peace of Mind”. Like the previous ones, I would like to make use of the simplest musical ideas to develop an entire piece through slow and micro changes in the music. I can recall every time composing “Peace of Mind” was like doubting myself. I always restart my composition as my ideas were blocked and I could not continue with it. The composition can only be finished until the deadline is approaching, when I just follow my heart and compose. I am not quite sure whether this situation is good or bad. I believe the nature of creative work should not be painful, but it is hard to not include such pain in the process of it. As the graduation draws near, I wish I can have strength to overcome the bitterness in composing and let the joy and passion of it be alongside my music journey.

This piece is recorded in the Academy Orchestral Composition Workshop 2016 by the Academy Symphony Orchestra.

「明鏡止水」指心境的修為,比喻心靈明淨,毫無雜念。

此作提醒自己心如明鏡、心止如水,以寧靜和坦誠的心態面對任何事物。

這首作品是《明鏡止水》系列的第三首,一如以往,我希望以最簡約的音樂素材,透過緩慢和微細的變化而發展整首樂曲。記得創作每一首《明鏡止水》時也不斷質疑自己的能力,創作時思路常常堵住,寫不下去,於是把樂曲重寫,這個過程還重複了很多次。直至期限將至,只好隨心地寫,才能把作品完成,有時也不知道這樣是好是壞。我認為創作的本質不應是痛苦,但創作過程很難沒有痛苦的部份。畢業在即,我希望自己能承受創作時的苦,同時不要忘記創作時的快樂和那一份初衷,在音樂路上走下去。

此曲於演藝管弦樂新作錄音工作坊收錄。


//[Score preview]
Mark