清平调 - arr. Ethan Mark Chia

清平调 arranged by Ethan Mark Chia
Text by Li Bai
Conducted by Mr Nelson Kwei
Soloist: Aaron Yuri Tay
Singapore Choral Artists
SCA Gala Concert 2024
14th April 2024
SOTA Concert Hall, Singapore
This poem depicts the legendary romantic tale between the emperor and his consort, Yang Guifei, renowned as one of ancient China's Four Beauties. Allegedly intoxicated at the time, Li Bai swiftly crafted this poem, which greatly pleased the emperor. In extolling Yang Guifei's beauty, Li Bai likens her attire to billowy clouds and her blush to blooming flowers, even the simplest facets of nature are immortalised by Yang Guifei's presence.
This arrangement by Ethan Mark Chia, a young Singaporean student, singer and music composer, and member of the Singapore Choral Artists, hopes to evoke a warm yet mystical interpretation of
the timeless poem, with subtle and gentle chord progressions aiming to capture and describe the enamourment of falling in love.
Premiered in Xi’an for the Singapore Choral Artists’ maiden overseas choral performance in December 2023, Ethan’s arrangement leverages a delicate balance of East and West in exploring both Chinese and Western musical harmony, texture, layering, and composition.