Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto composed for Chinese instruments | Shengtong (Tony) Lin | TEDxSAIS Youth

TL;DR

A talented musician recounts their experience arranging and performing the well-known piece "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" with a Chinese Ensemble, overcoming challenges and finding success.

Transcript

[Applause] a lot of pianos playing today last year uh at this stage I also played piano but with a specific piece that I arranged it I'm going to play it for you right now for those who of you might recognize this piece cuz it's quite well known but for those who of you didn't know the piece I want you to think about to think about a scene that can... Read More

Key Insights

• 🕰️ The musician's emotional connection to the piece motivated them to arrange it for the Chinese Ensemble.
• 🚨 The difficulties of merging different musical traditions and instrumentations brought challenges but also opportunities for creativity.
• ❓ Coordinating with the ensemble members and considering their abilities and contributions was crucial for a successful performance.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the musician come up with the idea to arrange "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence"?

The musician was deeply affected by the passing of composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and felt compelled to arrange the piece as a tribute.

Q: What challenges did the musician face in merging Western and Chinese instruments?

The musician initially struggled to blend the French horn and bass clarinet with the Chinese instruments, as the ensemble had specific tunings and playing styles.

Q: What made the musician nervous before the concert?

The musician was anxious about performing their own arrangement in front of a large audience for the first time and worried about potentially making mistakes.

Q: How did the musician feel after the performance?

Despite feeling blank and relying on muscle memory during the performance, the musician was overjoyed and relieved when praised by friends and teachers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The musician was inspired to arrange "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" after hearing of the composer's passing and decided to collaborate with the Chinese Ensemble at their school.

• They initially faced obstacles in merging Western and Chinese instruments but discovered that the piece's pentatonic scale made it suitable for the Chinese Ensemble.

• The musician struggled with writing intense parts for the French horn player and faced challenges in coordinating the ensemble before the concert.