Released by the Orchid Ensemble on Bandcamp, Spotify

From the Stars (2017, 2018) – Lan Tung

• erhu, vocal, zheng, cello, and percussion – released on the Orchid Ensemble’s 2024 CD “Celestial River” 
• erhu, vocal, zheng, and percussion
• erhu, vocal, 8 cellos

Lan Tung originally it for the Orchid Ensemble’s 20th anniversary concert “Music of the Heavens” (2017), collaboration with media artists Aleksandra Dulic and Keneth Newby. Amberley John, on Dulic’s creative arts team of students at the Centre for Cultural & Technology of UBC Okanagan, shared with us a Haudenosaunee story passed down in her family from Bradley John, a Faithkeeper, bear clan, Oneida of the Thames: Three brothers chased forever the Giant Bear (Big Dipper) and was able to strike it in the autumn. The Bear’s blood turned all leaves on the earth into red, symbolizing seasonal changes. People around the world have stories and legends that explain the changes of seasons and interesting events such as flood, drought, earthquakes, solar eclipse…. Although the stories are different in different cultures, the curiosity and the desire to understand the world are the same. So in a way, this story speaks about what we all share as humans. 

This piece uses various meters 6/8, 7/4, 10/8, 11/8. 

In the cello ensemble arrangement, the melodic line is divided between 8 cellos. and explores the percussive sounds of the cello.