The Lily-Colored Jasmine Flowers
百合色的茉莉花 (2022)
for Soprano and Alto Saxophones
Clifford Leaman, soprano saxophone, Joseph Lallo, alto saxophone
Duration:
[10'02"]
Instrumentation:
for Soprano and Alto Saxophones
Premiere:
Premiere performance: Clifford Leaman, soprano saxophone, Joseph Lallo, alto saxophone
Commissioned:
Commissioned by Clifford Leaman and Joseph Lallo through ASPIRE Grant
Program Notes
The Lily-colored Jasmine Flowers for soprano and alto saxophone was commissioned by saxophonists Clifford Leaman and Joseph Lallo, to whom the work is dedicated. Composed alongside my companion piece Blue Orchid Flowers on the Flowing Water for solo harp, both works draw inspiration from Chinese folk songs that celebrate the vivid beauty of flowers.
In this piece, I reinterpret one of the most beloved Chinese folk songs, Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower Song), which originated in the Jiangnan region of Southeast China in the 18th century. The melody—widely recognized through Puccini’s opera Turandot—praises the purity of love through the elegance and fragrance of jasmine blossoms.
By reimagining these simple yet exquisite folk melodies, I express a deep sense of longing for my family and homeland, especially during the time when the global pandemic made returning home impossible. The “lily-colored” hue in the title symbolizes femininity, compassion, and love—qualities that resonate throughout the music.