In Threads of Time, NUS Chinese Orchestra, under the baton of Moses Gay, draws an aural line from past to present, showcasing music’s ability to transcend traditions and find new paths to progress.
The journey begins with Gada Meilin, a symphonic poem that evokes a legendary hero’s epic journey though sweeping melodies and rugged rhythms. The programme then moves into the present with Ode to the Sun. Rich in Bayu colour and cultural character, the suite fuses lyrical introspection with cinematic sweep, evoking labour’s vigor, memory’s tenderness, and everyday resilience. Its resonant, surging arc portrays regional spirit while speaking to universal endurance and hope. Pining in Blue, the composer’s first work after moving to Shanghai, serves as a prelude to new life. Forsaking grand architecture, it flows in water-like sonorities—vibraphone and glockenspiel, weaving a dreamlike texture that has become the composer’s hallmark. A final wordless hum recedes, as if releasing longing to mountain wind and cloud.
