Q&A with Composer Dai Wei ('19)

GRAMMY Award-winning conductor Osmo Vänskä teams up with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra for the school’s first-ever West Coast tour of the United States, May 12–22, 2023, beginning with the world premiere of Awakening Lion by award-winning composer Dai Wei (’19) at one of the world’s premiere horticultural gardens, the stunning Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Learn more HERE.

Hailed as “impassioned” by the New York Times, “with a striking humanity” by the Washington Post, composer and vocalist Dai Wei’s music navigates in the spaces between east and west, classical and pop, electronic and acoustic, innovation and tradition. The acclaimed composer recently discussed Awakening Lion and the tour with Katie Mobley, Communications Manager at Longwood Gardens.

Could you please describe the musical aesthetic of the piece, and will any unpitched percussion instruments such as the Chinese bass drums, cymbals, or gongs, be woven into the score?
Awakening Lion combines traditional Cantonese Lion Dance elements with Western orchestral music. The piece features the use of unpitched percussion in instruments such as Chinese bass drums, which are commonly heard in the accompanying music of the Cantonese Lion Dance. These drums are integrated into the orchestral texture and complemented by other Western instruments and they play an essential role in the piece, providing a driving and pulsating rhythm that underlies the melodies. The overall effect is a dynamic and rhythmic piece that aims to evoke the spirit and energy of the Lion Dance.

What does it mean to you to have your piece performed by the Curtis Symphony Orchestra? And as part of the West Coast Tour?
Having my piece performed by the CSO and as part of the West Coast Tour is a great honor for me. I am very excited to have my work performed in a new and different context and to see how it resonates with the audiences on the West Coast. It also makes me feel like I am closer to my parents geographically. It is a dream come true to hear my music played by such a talented group of musicians who have dedicated their lives to studying and performing classical music at the highest level. The beginning of the piece has a reminiscent feeling of the traditional Chinese instrument Guqin played by two cellos using a guitar pick. I aimed to create a sound reminiscent of the traditional Chinese instrument Guqin by having two cellos played with a guitar pick at the beginning of the piece. My intention was to connect the past to the future and bring different corners of the world together. Especially after graduating four years ago, it feels like I am riding on a time machine that I am able to return to Curtis and collaborate with one of my favorite orchestras the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.

What does it mean to you to have your piece performed at Longwood Gardens?
The opportunity to have my work performed on the West Coast Tour and at the Longwood Gardens is incredibly exciting. It is a unique opportunity to showcase the connection between music and nature. The open-air setting provides a natural acoustic space that allows the music to blend with the surrounding environment. The audience can enjoy the beauty of nature while listening to the music, creating a unique and immersive experience.

Does this piece take a different shape when performed outdoors versus indoors?
The piece can take on a different shape and be experienced differently when performed outdoors vs. indoors due to the different acoustic environments. The open-air setting allows the music to resonate and diffuse, creating a more expansive and immersive sound. On the other hand, an indoor venue with a more controlled acoustic environment can provide greater clarity and definition of musical textures.

Are there any “awakening lion” moments that you have personally experienced that you would like to share, or any that have inspired you in creating this piece?
Awakening Lion draws inspiration from the Cantonese traditional dance of the same name, which tells the story of a creature named Nian (year) who terrorizes a village. The villagers turn to a lion for help. After a fierce battle, the lion wounds Nian, who flees and promises revenge. The following year, the villagers create a lion mask to scare away Nian.

The collaboration in the Lion Dance shares many similarities with that of a symphony orchestra. Both require a high degree of precision and coordination among the performers to achieve a cohesive performance. While writing the piece, I reflected on the fact that under that giant beast mask are ordinary people like you and me. Although we may not be familiar with the story of the Awakening Lion or the battle with Nian, we all face our own battles and sometimes resort to desperate measures to confront them. This inner strength is present in everyone, regardless of where we come from, who we love, or our gender. The lion that we raise up with all our inner positive strength and optimism when facing overwhelming forces is the embodiment of the Awakening Lion.

What emotions, imagery, etc. do you aspire to evoke through this piece?
Through this piece, I aspire to evoke a sense of energy, excitement, optimism, and celebration that is associated with the tradition of the Lion Dance. I also hope to convey a message of resilience and courage to embrace challenges. The piece is meant to be a celebration of life and a tribute to the power of the human spirit.

Visit Dai Wei‘s official website HERE.

Q&A with Dai Wei by Longwood Gardens Communications Manager, Katie Mobley, part of a larger blog post. Click HERE to read “A Beautiful Relationship, a Groundbreaking Performance.”

CURTIS ON TOUR
Curtis Symphony Orchestra West Coast Tour 2023
May 12–22, 2023

Curtis Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Yefim Bronfman (’77), piano
Janice Carissa (’22), piano

Learn more HERE.

KENNETT SQUARE, PA
Friday, May 12, 2023, at 7 p.m.
Longwood Gardens (Outdoors)

Curtis Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Janice Carissa (’22), piano

• Dai Wei: Awakening Lion
• Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

Presented by Longwood Gardens. For tickets and more information, visit www.longwoodgardens.org.

Curtis on Tour is the Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music.

Awakening Lion by Dai Wei was commissioned by the Curtis Institute of Music for Curtis on Tour, with the support of Allen R. and Judy Brick Freedman.

Orchestral concerts are supported by the Jack Wolgin Curtis Orchestral Concerts Endowment Fund.

Photos of composer Dai Wei by Lingyuan, Steely Cao, and Sha Tao. Photo of Yizilin Liang and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra by David DeBalko. Photo of fountains, courtesy of Longwood Gardens and Scott Hummel.