Work
Totem·Nine Dragons (Han-Yin Method) 图腾·九龙图·瀚音法
for small ensemble and taonga puoro
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Hanzhong Kang: Totem·Nine Dragons (Han-Yin Method) 图腾·九龙图·瀚音法 — downloadable PDF SCORE
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About
The Nine Dragons was painted by the Chinese Southern Song Dynasty painter, Chen Rong. It depicts nine dragons of various forms. The composition method I adopted is called "Han-Yin Method," which I created at the end of 2022. Han-Yin Method is based on microtonal, interdisciplinary research involving Chinese classical literature and Chinese Pinyin. It is composed of 26 letters and a 24-tone microtonal system, where each letter of a word corresponds to a musical note. This piece consists of nine movements, each showcasing the unique characteristics of different dragons. Each movement has its own corresponding poetic lines, and I translated these lines into musical notes to compose the piece. These fixed pitches formed their own modes, harmonies, and colors. The taonga puoro performer will engage in improvisation, selecting instruments autonomously, while the other four performers depict the nine dragons through music.
31th/July/2023
Hanzhong Kang
Contents note
I.Sky Dragon
( 玄云泼墨号天风)
Xuán yún pō mò hào tiān fēng
II.Earth Dragon
( 云头掷火驱雷公)
Yún tóu zhì huǒ qū léi gōng
III.Prosperity
( 起处山石摧，摩荡余声隐磅磕)
Qǐ chù shān shí cuī, mó dàng yú shēng yǐn bàng kē
IV.Fortune Dragon
( 不竞群龙趋，搏取明月看隋珠)
Bù jìng qún lóng qū, bó qǔ míng yuè kàn suí zhū
V.Water Dragon
( 奋迅见光怪 )
Fèn xùn jiàn guāng guài
VI. Fire Dragon
( 夭矫西行出天外)
Yāo jiǎo xī háng chū tiān wài
VII.Longevity Dragon
( 出水露头角，白浪如山映空作)
Chū shuǐ lù tóu jiǎo, bái làng rú shān yìng kōng zuò
VIII. Joy Dragon
( 飞上苍茫间，倾倒天瓢振枯涸)
Fēi shàng cāng máng jiān, qīng dǎo tiān piáo zhèn kū hé
IX.Wealth Dragon
( 心独闲，回头似欲归潜渊)
Xīn dú xián, huí tóu shì yù guī qián yuān
The first dragon leaps out of a rocky cave, tightly gripping a giant stone, eagerly awaiting something. The second dragon only shows its head and tail, blending with the swirling mist, glancing sideways, and looking back at the first dragon. The third dragon leaps from a rock, with alert eyes looking straight ahead, displaying a fierce demeanor. The fourth dragon is caught in a sudden giant wave and struggles desperately. Its eyes are fierce, and its left claw clutches a bright pearl, expressing intense agony. The fifth and sixth dragons form a group, with the fifth dragon having lost a horn. It suddenly leaps up and gazes at the swiftly rushing sixth dragon, assuming a combat posture. The seventh dragon plays and swims in the sea of clouds, almost disappearing within it. The eighth dragon soars through the clouds and sky, displaying an arrogant attitude. The ninth dragon crouches on top of a rock. Each dragon is accompanied by a corresponding poem describing its character and demeanor. The painting is currently housed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA