Distance Can't Keep Us Two Apart

Description

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Piano — Commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association Endowment in memory of Raymond W. Brock, my work Distance Can’t Keep Us Two Apart is written for unaccompanied mixed choir, and premiered by the Montclair State University Singers, conducted by Heather Buchanan, on 2/17/2012, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island.When I received the invitation from Dr. Tim Sharp, the Executive Director of ACDA to write the piece, Iwas deeply touched by what the ACDA has done in the past half century, to deliver universal love, to unite people from different backgrounds, and to develop our cultural tradition in the society through choral singing.xa0 I selected two lines from a poem by a Chinese poet Wang Bo in Tang Dynasty as the text of my piece:If I have a friend who knows my heart,Distance can’t keep us two apart.These lines have been popularly used among Chinese people, to share their friendship, love, trust and encouragement. xa0I was deeply inspired and encouraged by the ACDA’s vision towards the 21st century, in improving our education and communication for the new world through our music making and creation. xa0I hope that my music could serve as a bridge, to improve understanding between people from all cultures. Distance Can’t Keep Us Two Apart was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association Endowment in memory of Raymond W. Brock. The text reflects greetings of love that have been popularly used among Chinese people to share their friendship, love, trust, and encouragement. The composer was deeply inspired and encouraged by the ACDA’s vision towards the 21st century, in improving our education and communication for the new world through our music making and creation.