'Da Qu' for Percussion and Orchestra

Da Qu for percussion and orchestra consists of three parts: (1) San Xu (Prose-Prelude); (2) Zhong Xu (Middle-Prelude); (3) Po (Broaching). The instruments are introduced sequentially according to how they produce sound; first are sounds made from metal, followed by sounds made from stone, silk and bamboo. As the piece unfolds, the layers are gradually increased and the rhythm becomes more intensive. In the second part, the primary musical ideas are introduced by the metal percussion group, which then causes the response from string, wind and plucking instruments. The third part begins with wooden percussion timbres, which then leads to a multi-timbral dialogue between string, wind, percussion and plucking instruments. This culminates in a solo percussion cadenza, followed by a coda that has been foreshadowed by an earlier pedal point in the strings. This thesis analyzes the background, the ancient sources, the pitch material, the structure, the rhythm, and the orchestration of Da Qu in three chapters with preface, introduction and conclusion. Da Qu for percussion and orchestra has been written for both Chinese and Western orchestras to explore different performance practice and techniques. I will concentrate on discussing the Western version and my experience in translating the Chinese tradition to the Western orchestra.