This love song of the Amei tribe from the south of Taiwan depicts longing with the metaphor of ocean waves rolling onto the shore.

 

Fabian Müller‘s commentary: As a Swiss, I am familiar with the mountains, but to be surrounded by the ocean at the same time, as in Taiwan, is an inspiring and fascinating experience. I have been familiar with this simple and beautiful melody of the Amei tribe for years. I originally discovered this love song in a book of Taiwanese folk songs; I already incorporated it into Dialogues Cellestes, my double concerto for two cellos from 2009. It was a great pleasure for me to use the melody again in a completely different, romantic-impressionist context. The music begins with a depiction of ocean waves by the orchestra, and out of these waves the solo cello emerges with the melody. I have always found it interesting that the mood and character of a melody can be presented in an infinite variety of ways; and so, after a second appearance of the ocean waves, the melody’s light-hearted character is suddenly transformed with a melancholic ending.