66 Times (Version for chamber ensemble)

The title, 66 Times, the Voice of Pines and Cedars, refers to the text of the last song in this piece, an English translation of a poem written by a Zen nun in the 18th century. The remaining texts are taken from the Kokinshu, a collection of Japanese poetry from the early 10th century. All of these poems share similar characteristics in the way they depict nature.  Each movement represents a different season, beginning and ending with autumn.

There are two versions of this work.  In addition to this setting for soprano and chamber ensemble, there is a setting for soprano and chamber orchestra.  The orchestral version was premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony Orchestra and the ensemble version was premiered in Boston at an Underground Composers Collective concert.

–Shih-Hui Chen