Notes on Chen Mao Shuen Fantasy Ballade No. 2, “The embossed mural girl”
In memory of Giao Giao and Yi Ming,
composer Chen Mao Shuen remembers the beginning and end of the matter and commemorates it with music.
The music begins with the light Jazz rhythm and constant curiosity of by passing modulating harmonies. After the majestic bell, the temple music of Buddhism with Buddha chants is introduced. Through the monk GaoSung’s disclosure, opening up a dream world, there is dance with Jazz rhythm, there is imitative polyphony with mixed duple and compound rhythms, highlighting the romance of Yi Ming and Giao Giao.
At hopeless valley bottom of the abyss by an imitative chromatic harmony passage, finally, awakened by the monk Gao Sung.
The reality turns.
At the end, in the voice of Tao priest’s practice by the pentatonic harmonization, end with hopelessness and question with an incomplete feel.
STORY
The young man, Li ShingBang (pseudonym) retired from the military a few years ago and entered a studio to work as an arranger, sound engineer. During his free time, one of his hobbies is to go on hikes in the mountain.
One day, ShingBang went for a walk in the country side, relaxed, humming his usual Jazz tune, hiking along the mountain trails. Out of awareness, he unconsciously walked into a deep forest, seeing the ancient temple. In the temple, the monk Gao Sung sat silently still, eyes-closed. ShingBang approached the monk Gao Sung,
"Yuan, continue?” sat still with eyes closed, Gao Sung said.
ShingBang couldn't understand what Gao Sung meant.
“Gao Sung, I need your guidance.” said ShingBang.
“Let it be done with, let it pass.” said Gao Sung.
ShingBang turned and glanced an embossed mural painting next to him. There were monks in the painting, and the believers gathered to listen to the sermons. Among them, there is a girl standing. ShingBang wanted to see more carefully of this girl. When ShingBang’s eyes intertwined with her eyes, he immersed in the embossed mural, becoming a part the crowd, anxiously searching for her.
He heard someone calling him from behind,
“Yi-Ming! Yi-Ming! Yi-Ming!”
ShingBang is caught by surprise, because "Yi Ming" is his pseudonym, to be used only in arranger, recording, or writing. He treasures this name.
He turned back and looked at the person who called his name, not just anyone, but his wife “Giao Giao" from 1200 years ago.
At this moment, ShingBang suddenly realized, "Yi Ming" was his name from 1200 years ago.
Giao Giao is a court dancer, and both Giao Giao and Yi Ming are very fond of music and dance. Often they discussed a lot of dance and music.
However, unfortunately, they both mistakenly entered the abyss of time and space contradictions.
They fell into the endless black hole, powerful force made them sink, and then sink…
The two once again were seperated.
ShingBang heard the high-pitched bells, the monk Gao Sung calling him,
“Sir!"
ShingBang woke up, found himself lying in front of the relief murals, he quickly got up, stood up and looked at the girl in the relief, then the girl behind the monk Gao Sung.
ShingBang can only see her hair and her back. He looked back at Gao Sung, wanting to ask for help,
however he heard Gao Sung said,
"A-mi-tuo-fo. Let it be done with, let it pass.”
After returning to Taipei, ShingBang couldn't sleep well, always thought of his wife Giao Giao, yet, he didn't dare to go to the temple to ask for more guidance.
Later, ShingBang learned from his recording studio colleague that there is a Tao priest in the south of Taiwan who can practice the ritual, which calls back the spirits for more unfinished questions.
ShingBang received the ritual with the Tao priest’s help, learned that Giao Giao had migrated to another universe, and the Tao priest used the tape recorder to record Giao Giao’s voice message left for Yi Ming, and gave the tape to ShingBang.
Since then, all equipment in ShingBang's recording studio is not allowed to be touched by outsiders. This matter has been passed down in the recording industry in Taipei for a long time.
References: notes originated from composer Chen Mao Shuen