Songs of Dunren II (2023)
敦仁之歌

for violin-piano duo
Score Available HERE

Commissioned by Dun Ren Psychiatric Hospital and Yen-Chung Hu. Dedicated to the patients in the hospitals. 

由敦仁精神醫院和胡延中委託。獻給醫院的病友們。

Songs of Dunren is commissioned by the Dunren Hospital and its founder, Yen-Chung Hu. This musical endeavor is designed to serenade the hospital's patients throughout their daily routines, from waking up in the morning, having breakfast, exercising, taking medicine, having lunch, napping, and going to bed, replacing the traditional verbal and bell sound broadcast.

Each piece within this collection is intricately woven around an original folk tune, nursery rhyme, or old song by the composer Shiuan Chang. These melodies have been decomposed and re-composed into different organic styles related to the original melodies. While the primary intent is to evoke a sense of nostalgia for the patients, it is not solely for therapeutic purposes. Instead, it seeks to connect with their memories, creating a bridge to their past. "Songs of Dunren" also reaches out to those who have encountered trauma, hoping to offer solace and understanding.

This project has been an inevitable and transformative journey for the composer during the composition process. A year ago, he experienced a severe panic attack, resulting in a malfunctioning autonomic nervous system. Coincidentally, in conversation with the initial approach of this project, compositions such as Farewell I, Farewell II, One More Good Day, and Theater on the Beds are honest documentaries of his internal dialogues and ongoing self-reconstruction.

Special Thanks: Part of the nursery rhymes were written during the artist's residency at the Wurlitzer Foundation Artist Residency at Taos, NM, 2023

1. One More Good Day

2. Cantabile Andante

3. To the Joyful Solitary Wanderer

4. Farewell

5. Farewell; Adeiu

6. Daydreaming By The Country Road (violin solo)

7. A Tiny Theater for The BEDs

Duration: approximately 56 minutes

The album has been released !!

《安土》earthing

Concept | Yen-Chung Hu & Shiuan Chang
Advisory | Chung Yung-Feng
Composer | Shiiuan Chang
Violin | William Wei
Piano | Evan Wong

Visual: Chi-Tsung Wu

Sound Engineer | Sun Shao-Ting
Recording Venue | Chi-Mei Museum recital hall
Recording Coordination and Planning | Huang Yufen

Performances

Premiere:

• 2023 December 6th. world premiered by Tatsuki Narita in Yokohama, Japan.

Other performances:

• 2024 May 8th Taiwan premiered by William Wei and Evan Wong

• 2024 October 28th Theater on the BEDs from Song of Dun Ren performed by William Wei and Evan Wong at National Concert Hall, Taiwan. Tickets

• 2025 January 11th Theater on the BEDs from Song of Dun Ren performed by William Wei and Evan Wong at Jordan Hall, Boston. Tickets

• 2025 January 17th Theater on the BEDs and To the Joyful Solitary Wanderer from Song of Dun Ren performed by William Wei and Evan Wong at private salon, NYC

• 2025 January 18th One More Good Day and To the Joyful Solitary Wanderer from Song of Dun Ren performed by William Wei and Evan Wong at private salon, NYC

• 2025 January 19th US premiered by William Wei and Evan Wong. Tickets

• 2025 January 21st Lecture performance at Harker School, San Jose