Cicada Seeking the Sources of Streams

CAT No. FLAU101
Release Date: January 11th, 2023
Format: CD/DIGITAL

台湾の室内楽アンサンブルCicadaが新たな4人編成で送る新作アルバムは、もともと海をテーマに制作を続けてきた彼らが、その源流を辿り、実際に山奥の渓谷を探索する長い旅=自己探求の時間を記録した作品です。源流とは、はっきりと境界で分かれるような湖のようなものではなく、水たまり、季節ごとの流れや、岩や砂の孔によって形成されていることに気づいた作曲を担当するJesy Chiangは、物事のありかたから目的や方向性といったものが消え、新しい多層的なものへ向かう可能性を象徴しているように思えたといいいます。源流だけではなく、キャンプ場での霧雨、テントに降り続ける夜半の雨、出発時の葉の上の露…山を形作っている雨と水は、このアルバムの中心的なテーマとなりました。

静謐さと躍動感、多層的な音楽構成が見事な表題曲の長編を筆頭に、ピアノ、弦楽器、ギターに加えて、木管楽器、打楽器を新たに加え、源流のインスピレーションから表現の幅をさらに広げた本作。森にみられる様々な生物・静物のテクスチャー、自然の誕生と死のサイクル、森羅万象全てを受け入れるかのような神秘の表情を、内省的で美しいハーモニーとして現出させた意欲作となっています。

Seeking the Sources of Streams documented a long journey exploring the valleys deep in the mountains. Stepping out of the misty forest is the vast and boundless sources of streams. We realized the source is not a lake that could be clearly defined but formed by puddles, seasonal underflow, and pores of rocks and sand. We came out of the experiences wandering in the mountains and ingrained the history of Taiwan through music. The purpose of hiking is no longer to reach the peaks but to seek within.

The composer Jesy trekked in the core of Central Mountain Range to search for the trickling drops and expansive valleys in sources of streams. The encounter with a Benihi tree inspired her to visit the Hinoki forest and composed the music for remains of giant trees which fell during the logging history. It took us a while wandering through the ridges and cirques to realize the mountains were formed from water. Water exists everywhere from the misty rain in the campsite, midnight rain on the tent, and dew drops on the leaves while departing… Rain and water became the theme of six short pieces in the album. Through the music, we once again hiked the forest trail between the physical home to/from the spiritual home.

Seeking the Sources of Streams diminished the borders of the mountains and opened up the awareness of the elements in mountains through the rain, ridgeline, cirques, and giant trees. The mountains in this album are not merely locations but everything we experienced within. Over the sources of the streams, the wrinkles of the land accepted both living and fallen trees. The woodwinds and percussion instruments joined piano, strings, and guitar to manifest the natural cycles of birth and death like harmonies of cicada sounds.

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Track List

1 Departing in the Morning After Rain

2 Birds and Moist Pine Needles

3 On the Way to the Glacial Cirque

4 Foggy Rain

5 Seeking the Sources of Streams

6 Encounter at the Puddle

7 Raining on the Tent

8 Remains of Ancient Trees

9 Forest Trail to the Home Away Home

Cicada Seeking the Sources of Streams

CAT No. FLAU101
Release Date: January 11th, 2023
Format: CD/DIGITAL

Track List

1 Departing in the Morning After Rain

2 Birds and Moist Pine Needles

3 On the Way to the Glacial Cirque

4 Foggy Rain

5 Seeking the Sources of Streams

6 Encounter at the Puddle

7 Raining on the Tent

8 Remains of Ancient Trees

9 Forest Trail to the Home Away Home

台湾の室内楽アンサンブルCicadaが新たな4人編成で送る新作アルバムは、もともと海をテーマに制作を続けてきた彼らが、その源流を辿り、実際に山奥の渓谷を探索する長い旅=自己探求の時間を記録した作品です。源流とは、はっきりと境界で分かれるような湖のようなものではなく、水たまり、季節ごとの流れや、岩や砂の孔によって形成されていることに気づいた作曲を担当するJesy Chiangは、物事のありかたから目的や方向性といったものが消え、新しい多層的なものへ向かう可能性を象徴しているように思えたといいいます。源流だけではなく、キャンプ場での霧雨、テントに降り続ける夜半の雨、出発時の葉の上の露…山を形作っている雨と水は、このアルバムの中心的なテーマとなりました。

静謐さと躍動感、多層的な音楽構成が見事な表題曲の長編を筆頭に、ピアノ、弦楽器、ギターに加えて、木管楽器、打楽器を新たに加え、源流のインスピレーションから表現の幅をさらに広げた本作。森にみられる様々な生物・静物のテクスチャー、自然の誕生と死のサイクル、森羅万象全てを受け入れるかのような神秘の表情を、内省的で美しいハーモニーとして現出させた意欲作となっています。

Seeking the Sources of Streams documented a long journey exploring the valleys deep in the mountains. Stepping out of the misty forest is the vast and boundless sources of streams. We realized the source is not a lake that could be clearly defined but formed by puddles, seasonal underflow, and pores of rocks and sand. We came out of the experiences wandering in the mountains and ingrained the history of Taiwan through music. The purpose of hiking is no longer to reach the peaks but to seek within.

The composer Jesy trekked in the core of Central Mountain Range to search for the trickling drops and expansive valleys in sources of streams. The encounter with a Benihi tree inspired her to visit the Hinoki forest and composed the music for remains of giant trees which fell during the logging history. It took us a while wandering through the ridges and cirques to realize the mountains were formed from water. Water exists everywhere from the misty rain in the campsite, midnight rain on the tent, and dew drops on the leaves while departing… Rain and water became the theme of six short pieces in the album. Through the music, we once again hiked the forest trail between the physical home to/from the spiritual home.

Seeking the Sources of Streams diminished the borders of the mountains and opened up the awareness of the elements in mountains through the rain, ridgeline, cirques, and giant trees. The mountains in this album are not merely locations but everything we experienced within. Over the sources of the streams, the wrinkles of the land accepted both living and fallen trees. The woodwinds and percussion instruments joined piano, strings, and guitar to manifest the natural cycles of birth and death like harmonies of cicada sounds.

KEEP READING

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