Isaac Tang – Poet, Author, Composer

By Isaac Tang

‘Whispers of the Orient’ is a collection of twelve miniature piano pieces that fuse both Western and Eastern influences. Like ukiyo-e prints or short lyrical poems, each piece aims to provide a short but emotionally intense snapshot of different moments in time, whether it be sunrise or sunset, spring or winter. There are sketches of blue waves frolicking by the sand, and views of pine trees weighed down by snow on icy precipices, and even a sojourn through the ruins of an ancient capital.

Drawing heavily from centuries of scholarly tradition in China, the pieces have a strong intellectual aspect to them too. While they aim to sound spontaneous and emerge effortlessly like the calligraphy strokes of a master, each piece is carefully crafted as contemplative essays on life itself. For example, the piece ‘Fish Pond’ celebrates perseverance that leads to success by depicting the fabled journey of carp fish leaping upwards along roaring cataracts to reach the heavenly gate. Another piece ‘St John’s Island’ commemorates the Jesuit Francis Xavier who dreamed of evangelising East Asia, whose successors ultimately brought about an efflorescence of cultural exchange, as demonstrated by a reimagination and arrangement of a Gregorian chant with Asian characteristics.

In terms of musical style, the pieces are deeply rooted in Western Romanticism and Impressionism, in particular Chopin, Liszt and Debussy. However, there are also many Eastern musical elements as well, for example a liberal use of the pentatonic scale. The pieces showcase influences from Asian folk tunes and their piano arrangements (e.g. ‘Jasmine Flower’, ‘Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon’), Japanese contemporary composers (e.g. Joe Hisaishi, Takashi Yoshimatsu), Korean drama soundtracks (e.g. ‘Mr Sunshine’) and modern Taiwanese Christian music (e.g. by Amy Sand). As a self-taught composer, most of the pieces are in ternary form and some of the motifs and melodies probably still have more potential for motivic development. But I believe that they ultimately still remain engaging throughout and are nice musical representations of the scenes they aim to recreate.

In terms of difficulty, the pieces are mostly on the more advanced end. Although they are all definitely playable, I make no pretence that I myself can play them effortlessly and proficiently, as my interest lies more in musical composition than in performance. However, I hope that some of you whose pianistic skills far exceed mine may be curious to peruse my sheet music and derive a little pleasure from trying them out on your own piano.

Link to the complete sheet music (around 60 pages): https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/whispers-of-the-orient-twelve-pieces-for-piano-opus-1-22752354.html

Link to videos of the pieces: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxE4siZkoRQiCitA304fuhuDVqUKWNUf0