These few days' contact with Wang (22-25 June) has left quite a deep impression on me.. and it's probably going to be one of the most enriching and inspiring experience of the year, both for me as a performer and as a research student studying his works.
Despite his cold outlook, high musical expectations and bluntness (if u dont meet his expectations), he is actually very helpful and supportive of our ensemble. He attended all our practices and rehearsals since landing on Wed evening. His schedule the following day for instance all revolve around us - 10.30am (at NAFA giving lessons to all the solo items),12.30pm lunch (with prominent figures), 4.30pm (compo seminar at NYGH), 7pm (going on air and i heard he gave an amazing speech), 8pm rushed back to NAFA (to attend our rehearsals, even though he seemed so worn out by then).
Well and I'm extremely lucky to be given the chance to tag alongside him these 4 days, although on another level, it can be stressful!
Despite his cold outlook, high musical expectations and bluntness (if u dont meet his expectations), he is actually very helpful and supportive of our ensemble. He attended all our practices and rehearsals since landing on Wed evening. His schedule the following day for instance all revolve around us - 10.30am (at NAFA giving lessons to all the solo items),12.30pm lunch (with prominent figures), 4.30pm (compo seminar at NYGH), 7pm (going on air and i heard he gave an amazing speech), 8pm rushed back to NAFA (to attend our rehearsals, even though he seemed so worn out by then).
Well and I'm extremely lucky to be given the chance to tag alongside him these 4 days, although on another level, it can be stressful!
Frankly speaking I hadn't slept well for the days leading up to his arrival in Singapore, but I realized that all my worries were unfounded after the first rehearsal session with him. He doesn't speak much, but when he does, it is "一言惊醒梦中人".. The piece (踏歌) he wrote specially for us to premiere in the concert became so much more colourful and enjoyable to perform and as he mentions, all his pieces have 画面性 and there are specific things that he is trying to depict at various sections. As he puts it, most of his pieces can easily be used for dance choreographing.
It was also only when chatting with him that we got to know why he gave us the privilege to hold his compositional recital. For the past years, many professional music groups in China has approached him about this idea, but he never agreed to any of those.. "没意思" he says. But for us he agreed almost immediately because he felt that we are a young and passionate group, 可朔性高 (he never forgot the impression left by our ensemble in the 2008 NCMC competition where he was an adjucator), and felt this opportunity will be extremely beneficial for us and he can "推你们一把 ".. Sure enough, what he spoke on air, or with journalist, has been extremely touching. He is the kind of person which u wont want to let down.
On the philosophy of life, Wang believes in 实在 and 实际的东西 rather than 虚无的形式. Like for instance he told me that him giving me his two main contact forms is the most 实际, namecard (which i still didn't get) is just a 虚无的形式.. hahaa
and when everyone else is getting his autograph (which includes me), he actually said to me "..你还要我的签名阿。。你就不必了吧，这些都是虚的。。。" These reflects his 用心良苦 and to me, these thoughts are really very true. Somehow it also dawned on me about our pursuits in life, do we really want to spend energy on 实际 or 虚无 things? I guess this also explained his dislikes for entertaining guests, there were so many famous performers/ prominent figures wanting to treat him to a meal or bring him for a tour for the days he was here, but he rejected all.. and he especially dislikes eating a long meal that last more than an hr.
and when everyone else is getting his autograph (which includes me), he actually said to me "..你还要我的签名阿。。你就不必了吧，这些都是虚的。。。" These reflects his 用心良苦 and to me, these thoughts are really very true. Somehow it also dawned on me about our pursuits in life, do we really want to spend energy on 实际 or 虚无 things? I guess this also explained his dislikes for entertaining guests, there were so many famous performers/ prominent figures wanting to treat him to a meal or bring him for a tour for the days he was here, but he rejected all.. and he especially dislikes eating a long meal that last more than an hr.
His fav. food: sashimi, clams without much flavourings added, prefers plain rice to flavoured rice.. basically likes original tastes
There's now an added dimension for me to do well in my thesis.. hopefully in future there'll be opportunities to study under him
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