This is the latest music video from my new CD "Orchid Island", of the song "Life Arrives".
This CD is my first release with a new record company in Asia, Seed Music, after leaving Wind Records last year.
Co-starring with me in this music video is Landy Wen, a well-known Taiwan singer and actress, who is also signed to Seed Music.
It was an absolute joy to work with Landy, and I hope you like the results as much as I do! :)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
"Bressanone" as performed live on Taiwan's China TV
This is my latest performance of the song Bressanone, with a newly composed section at the end... there's more to that new portion, but that's a surprise. ;)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dulan 都蘭 "Oh Yi Yan"
~Composed by Dulan La Jen Hsi, and produced by Matthew Lien
~Performed by Lai-hsin and La Jen Hsi (vocals), and Matthew Lien (all other instrumentation).
~ (c) Dulan La Jen Hsi 2009. All rights reserved.
A few years ago, while doing some recording in the aboriginal Amis village of Dulan, located in Taiwan's southern Taitung province, I joined some friends for singing in the old abandoned Sugar Factory.
幾年前，在南台灣台東都蘭阿美族部落錄音的時候，我加入了一群朋友，在老舊的廢棄糖廠唱歌。
This had become a place for gathering, and where local art could be shown. It had a very open feeling, and being made of concrete, had great acoustics for recording.
這個廢棄糖廠已成為聚會場所，以及當地藝術展示的地方。此地讓人有相當開闊的感覺，加上由水泥所建造，對錄音來說有極佳的音效。
And so we gathered in the evening, and with Taiwan Beer, rice wine and beetle nuts, we sang songs as the rains outside came and went and came again.
晚上我們聚集於此，啜飲著台灣啤酒，小米酒加上檳榔。我們唱著，外頭大雨斷斷續續的應和著我們的歌聲。
One of the songs was a variation on a traditional Amis song, with some added lyrics sung in Mandarin. The added words describe what it is like for a young man growing up in Dulan and within his traditional age-class, "La Jen Hsi".
其中有一首歌是傳統阿美族歌曲的變奏曲，加上一些中文歌詞來唱。添加的中文歌詞述說著在都蘭阿美族中，一個年輕人在他的傳統年齡階層成長的故事。
A young man named Lai-hsin and his friends sang the song for me, as I recorded it. One of the most touching phrases in the song comes after describing local cultural activities, such as swimming and skin diving for fish in the ocean, when the words explain, "we grow up slowly this way."
有位叫來幸的年輕人和他的朋友當我錄音時候一起唱這首歌。其中最扣人心弦的段落是在描述當地文化活動 (如游泳，或是在海中輕裝潛水) 之後，歌詞說， “我們就是這樣慢慢長大的。”
Indeed in a world of television and Internet, high pressure marketing and commercial culture, perhaps our children grow up too fast, without being well-rooted in a strong sense of cultural identity and esteem.
確實，在一個充斥著電視、網路、高壓市場行銷以及商業文化的世界中，或許我們的孩子們都成長得太快了，還未能在文化認同及自我中好好紮根就已經長大了。
I recently rejoined my Amis brothers in Dulan for their annual Harvest Festival, the Kiloma'an. Inspired by the traditional culture, rituals, and music, I returned to this song I had recorded in the Sugar Factory so long ago, and completed it with some studio production.
我最近又再次參加了阿美族一年一度的豐年祭。受到傳統文化、儀式以及音樂的啟發，我把當年在糖廠錄的音樂再加上後製完成了這首音樂。
The song remains the properly of those young men to do with as they please. And it is presented here, for your interest.
這首歌仍適度保留那群年輕人隨性歌唱的部份；在這裡將它呈現給各位。
Yi lao ("thank you" in Amis).
Yi lao。(阿美族語的 “謝謝”)。
Listen to "Oh Yi Yan"
~Performed by Lai-hsin and La Jen Hsi (vocals), and Matthew Lien (all other instrumentation).
~ (c) Dulan La Jen Hsi 2009. All rights reserved.
A few years ago, while doing some recording in the aboriginal Amis village of Dulan, located in Taiwan's southern Taitung province, I joined some friends for singing in the old abandoned Sugar Factory.
幾年前，在南台灣台東都蘭阿美族部落錄音的時候，我加入了一群朋友，在老舊的廢棄糖廠唱歌。
This had become a place for gathering, and where local art could be shown. It had a very open feeling, and being made of concrete, had great acoustics for recording.
這個廢棄糖廠已成為聚會場所，以及當地藝術展示的地方。此地讓人有相當開闊的感覺，加上由水泥所建造，對錄音來說有極佳的音效。
And so we gathered in the evening, and with Taiwan Beer, rice wine and beetle nuts, we sang songs as the rains outside came and went and came again.
晚上我們聚集於此，啜飲著台灣啤酒，小米酒加上檳榔。我們唱著，外頭大雨斷斷續續的應和著我們的歌聲。
One of the songs was a variation on a traditional Amis song, with some added lyrics sung in Mandarin. The added words describe what it is like for a young man growing up in Dulan and within his traditional age-class, "La Jen Hsi".
其中有一首歌是傳統阿美族歌曲的變奏曲，加上一些中文歌詞來唱。添加的中文歌詞述說著在都蘭阿美族中，一個年輕人在他的傳統年齡階層成長的故事。
A young man named Lai-hsin and his friends sang the song for me, as I recorded it. One of the most touching phrases in the song comes after describing local cultural activities, such as swimming and skin diving for fish in the ocean, when the words explain, "we grow up slowly this way."
有位叫來幸的年輕人和他的朋友當我錄音時候一起唱這首歌。其中最扣人心弦的段落是在描述當地文化活動 (如游泳，或是在海中輕裝潛水) 之後，歌詞說， “我們就是這樣慢慢長大的。”
Indeed in a world of television and Internet, high pressure marketing and commercial culture, perhaps our children grow up too fast, without being well-rooted in a strong sense of cultural identity and esteem.
確實，在一個充斥著電視、網路、高壓市場行銷以及商業文化的世界中，或許我們的孩子們都成長得太快了，還未能在文化認同及自我中好好紮根就已經長大了。
I recently rejoined my Amis brothers in Dulan for their annual Harvest Festival, the Kiloma'an. Inspired by the traditional culture, rituals, and music, I returned to this song I had recorded in the Sugar Factory so long ago, and completed it with some studio production.
我最近又再次參加了阿美族一年一度的豐年祭。受到傳統文化、儀式以及音樂的啟發，我把當年在糖廠錄的音樂再加上後製完成了這首音樂。
The song remains the properly of those young men to do with as they please. And it is presented here, for your interest.
這首歌仍適度保留那群年輕人隨性歌唱的部份；在這裡將它呈現給各位。
Yi lao ("thank you" in Amis).
Yi lao。(阿美族語的 “謝謝”)。
Listen to "Oh Yi Yan"
Monday, May 18, 2009
"Lai Sheng Geng In Taiwan" - 瀨上剛 in 台灣
~ Music composed and produced by Matthew Lien ~ Performed by Matthew Lien
~ (c) Matthew Lien / Whispering Willows Music / Warner Chappell 2008.
All rights reserved.
After meeting the well-known Japanese TV host, Lai Sheng Geng, by chance, in several places around Taiwan (and these meetings showing up in his TV series, "Lai Sheng Geng In Taiwan"), we have started to feel like good friends.
有機緣在台灣許多不同的地方與名日本主持人賴上剛會面後，（這些面談收錄於他的節目“賴上剛in台灣“）我們開始熟悉且成了好友。
Now days, it is always a pleasure to meet him, and we still seem to find each other in the most surprising places.
能遇見他總是我的榮幸，且我們似乎總能在令人驚訝的地方撞見。
Most recently, he was shooting an episode at Hsitou, Nantao County, at the same time when I was celebrating my wedding there. It was a great pleasure to see him again, and to invite him to join in our celebration.最近，
他在南投拍攝節目，同時我也在南投舉行我的婚禮，這真是很大的榮幸再見到他，且邀請他來參與我們的婚禮。
I was also pleased to have the opportunity to create the opening theme music for his TV series. It is always special how music can underscore a special friendship!
我也很高興有機會能為他的節目創作一段開場主題音樂， 特別的總是音樂如何能凸顯出一段不一樣的友情。
Watch the opening to "Lai Sheng Geng In Taiwan"
"賴上剛in台灣" 開場欣賞。
Sunday, April 26, 2009
"Da San Wu Jia" and the Last Supper" - "大山無價" & 最後的晚餐
~ Lyrics composed by Chang Hain-yang~ Music composed and produced by Matthew Lien
~ Performed by Chang Hain-yang (Jesus), Yu Yuan-keng (Judas), Chang, and Matthew Lien (all other instrumentation).
~ (c) Matthew Lien / Whispering Willows Music / Warner Chappell 2008. All rights reserved.
While visiting my friends Akiang and Hain-yang in Yi-lan one day, they told me about a very funny idea...
這天，當我來到宜蘭拜訪我的朋友，阿鏘與翰揚 ，他們告訴我一個十分有趣的想法。
Hain-yang is a very well-known radio host in Yi-lan. He has won several Golden Bell awards in the past for his radio programs, and he now had an idea for a radio advertisement to promote Akiang's brother's restaurant, called "Da San Wu Jia".
翰揚在宜蘭是個有名的電台主持人，在過去亦曾多次拿下金鐘獎，而今天，他突發奇想，想利用廣播來幫阿鏘兄弟的餐廳“大山無價“做宣傳。
This was quite different for Hain-yang, because he is best known for his radio documentaries about culture... not for advertising. In fact, none of us are much interested in producing advertisements, because they are usually just for making money for someone, and don't have any higher purpose.
這想法對於翰揚來說是實屬難得，因為在他的廣播歷程中，他所熟悉均為文化相關而非廣告，事實上，我們幾個對於廣告製作都沒有太大的興趣，因為，廣告的最大的價值都只是賺錢，並不會有其他更有意義的目的。
But Hain-yang was so excited about his idea, so we felt very curious. He explained that this was not for making money -- in fact, there was no budget at all -- but if we did a great job producing this, we could probably win a Golden Bell Award, because it was a very funny script!
但翰揚意外的對於這次的想法十分熱衷，這勾起了我們的好奇心，他提到這不是為了賺錢—事實上，這是個無本生意—但如果我們能做好它，也許我們能贏得一座金鐘，因為這是個很特殊的劇本。
After he shared his script outline with us, we thought it would be a lot of fun to create... and we had never won a Golden Bell Award before.
在他與我們分享了腳本大綱後，我們一致認為，若這執行起來一定很有趣，況且我們都從未拿過金鐘獎。
His concept was to create an advertisement which sounded like a traditional Taiwanese puppet show (known as "bu dai shi" in Taiwan culture). The story would be based on the "Last Supper" of Jesus Christ, where Jesus and Judas are having an argument. But rather than the infamous biblical argument, they are arguing because Judas wants to leave, and Jesus is angry that he won't stay for his last supper.
他的想法是製作一個聽起來很像布袋戲的廣告，故事則是以耶穌最後的晚餐為背景，耶穌與猶大因猶大想離開而起了爭執，耶穌十分生氣，因為猶大不留下來與他共進最後的晚餐。
When Jesus confronts Judas as to why he wants to run way, Judas explains that "Da San Wu Jia" is toooooooo delicious to resist!
當耶穌質問猶大為何執意要離開時，猶大解釋，並說到大山無價實在是美味無法擋！
I thought this story was very funny, and I knew it would present me with some fun production opportunities. So we all agreed to do it!
我覺得這故事很搞笑，而且我知道這定會增添不少創作的樂趣，大家也都躍躍欲試。
I recorded Hain-yang (Jesus) and Akiang (Judas) reading their parts, and I then started creating the music and sound effects.
於是乎，我便開始錄製翰揚（耶穌）以及阿鏘（猶大）的聲音，然後再開始製作音樂音效。
Creating the music changes for mood was one of the fun challenges, letting the music style emphasize Jesus and Judas' emotions.其中，
要創作音樂中包含心情的轉變是個很有趣的挑戰，必須要讓音樂旋律的特色凸顯出耶穌及猶大的情緒。
One example is In the opening, when Judas is singing is a traditional "running away" song, typical for when a character is fleeing in Taiwanese puppet theater.
例如在開場時，當猶大唱著傳統的“逃跑歌“時，也就是經典當布袋戲棚裡當主角逃跑時的配樂。
The greatest challenge in the music production was to produce a choir singing, "Da San Wu Jia... Amen". This was for the grand finale ending, to lift the emotion high up into typical biblical drama.
而在製作音樂時最大的挑戰則是創作合唱“大山無價…阿們“的部份，亦是最後壓軸的部份，須將氣氛炒熱至最高點就像經典聖經歌劇。
When I finally completed the advertisement and sent it to Akiang and Hain-yang, they were thrilled! Hain-yang submitted the advertisement to the Golden Bell jury, and we waited for the news.
當我終於完成了這廣告寄給阿鏘和翰揚時，他們十分興奮，翰揚也將它提交於金鐘獎最為參獎作品，而後我們則靜候消息。
And then, we heard the news...
隨後，我們聽到了新聞…
Of course, Hain-yang had won more Golden Bell Awards... and one of them was our radio advertisement!
當然 翰揚又贏得了金鐘獎…其中一件作品就是我們的廣播廣告。
We were so excited, because we had created this advertisement only for the love of production! We all share a love for traditional drama, and theater, and music... and all this had come together for this production.
我們興奮至極，因為我們創作的源頭只因熱愛製作，我們分享所有對於傳統歌劇及戲劇，當然還有音樂上的熱忱…而這些全都濃縮在這次的創作裡。
And even though we were competing against some of the best radio producers in Taiwan, our passion for "the art of production" had been successful!
雖然有許多知名的廣播製作人與我們競爭，但我們對於“藝術創作“的熱情終究還是成功了。
A couple of weeks later, a very funny thing happened when one of the competing teams decided to go to Da San Wu Jia for dinner, to congratulate the restaurant owner on his award-winning advertisement.
幾週後，一件有趣的事情發生了，其中一組競爭者決定光臨大山無價，並恭喜餐廳老闆，恭喜他獲得這獎項。
But the owner was quite surprised... because in our excitement to create this advertisement, we forgot to tell him about it!
但餐廳老闆十分訝異…因為我們太熱衷於製作這廣告，而忘了告訴他！
Listen to "Da San Wu Jia"
Thursday, January 15, 2009
"Here We Stand" - 愛與行
~Composed and produced by Matthew Lien
~Performed by the Shenzhen Secondary School Girls' Choir (choir vocals), Hing Yin-zhong (bamboo flute), Chou Yi-chien (erhu), and Matthew Lien (vocals, all other instrumentation).
~ (c) Matthew Lien / Whispering Willows Music / Warner Chappell 2008. All rights reserved.
While performing concerts in China last year, I was asked by some local businesspeople connected to the Shenzhen city government if I would compose a song for their city.
當去年在中國演奏音樂會的時候，一些與當地深圳政府有關的企業家們問我是否有意願為深圳寫一首歌。
To be honest, I was hesitant at first, because I was uncertain if I could find the "heart and soul" of this city which had been rapidly developed past decades.
老實說，我一開始還蠻猶豫的，因為我不確定我是否能找到這個經過數十年迅速開發城市的「心和靈魂」。
Shenzhen is perhaps best known as a special economic zone established under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平). And while many consider this city to be a great success, I won't share this opinion based on economic developments alone.
在鄧小平領導的帶領下最認知的大概就是深圳這特殊的經濟地帶，當許多人認為這個城市是個重大的成功，我卻不會單獨根據經濟發展這個觀點來下定論。
If I were to create a song for this place, I must first find my inspiration, and economic interest alone would not suffice.
如果我將為這個地方打造一首歌的話，我必須先找到我的靈感，當然單獨以經濟來說並不足夠。
And so I asked to be taken to some cultural areas around Shenzhen. As it turned out, this was not an easy task because so much cultural history had been erased during the Cultural Revolution, and the inner city of Shenzhen was completely rebuilt.
所以我提出到深圳附近的文化區域看看。結果這並不是個簡單的任務，因為很多文化歷史已經在文化革命中給銷毀了，深圳也是全部從新建設了。
As I traveled around the area, I learned more about how Shenzhen had once been a frontier town some hundreds of years ago; an untamed country where people had come in hopes of carving out a new life.
當我都走完附近的區域，我學到更多有關在幾百年前深圳曾經是個邊境小鎮；那裡是一個人們想創造新生活的未開發國度。
This seemed to be a suitable history, as the economic experiment of Shenzhen much later had had again turned this place into a new frontier.
這似乎是個適合的歷史文化，當深圳在進行經濟實驗後也把這個地方變成了一個新的邊境。
During my travels, I was taken to a nearby historic Hakka village called Dapeng (大鵬), and much to my surprise this place had been preserved in its original condition. As I walked the stone streets I felt as though I had been transported back in time.
在我的旅程中，我被帶到附近一個叫大鵬的歷史客家村莊，我意外的發現這個地方還保存著它原本的形態。當我走在石頭所做的街道上我感覺到我回到了從前。
It was here that I discovered a group of children playing in the streets, and I immediately joined them. We walked and played together, and they took me to their village community centre where a traditional opera rehearsal was taking place, and it was these charming children who brought me the much needed inspiration for my composition.
這裡是我發現一群小朋友在街上玩耍，我馬上就融入了他們。我們邊走邊玩，之後他們帶我到他們村莊的社區活動中心，剛好遇到傳統歌劇正在排練中，我最需要的創作靈感正是這些可愛的小朋友給我的。
In the following days I contemplated Shenzhen's "frontier" history and realized that again today, Shenzhen had become a new frontier.
接下來幾天我細心觀察深圳的「邊境」歷史並且發現現在深圳已經成了新的邊境。
In the age of global warming, governments must shoulder a new responsibility to develop infrastructure and policies which will provide a better environmental future for future generations. This responsibility is especially potent for cities such as this which enjoy economic wellbeing.
在溫室效應期間，政府必須承擔開發為未來打造更好的未來環境的基礎建設及政策的責任。這個責任對這個喜愛經濟福利的城市是特別重要的。
It is the children of Shenzhen who will be the beneficiaries of a new environmental frontier, and I composed this song with this as the central theme.
能成為在一個新的環境邊境的受益人正是深圳的小孩子，這是我寫這首歌的主要題材。
When I was producing this song, I was greatly impressed by the Shenzhen Secondary School Girls' Choir who I recorded for this song. Their ability and discipline was added inspiration for me.
當我在製作這首歌的時候，錄製這首歌的深圳高級中學合唱團深深的打動了我，他們的能力和紀律也增加了我的靈感。
The debut of this song occurred at a benefit concert in Shenzhen, where Jet Li and I were two of the prominent presenters. I was excited to perform this song with the xiao (Chinese bamboo flute) master Fan Ray, and the Shenzhen Secondary School Girls Choir, especially because there were some very important guests in the audience...
這首歌的處女秀獻給深圳的一場公益音樂會，李連杰和我是裡面最顯眼的表演者。我非常興奮能與蕭(中國竹笛)的大師Fan Ray及深圳高級中學的合唱團一起表演這首歌曲，更重要的是因為在觀眾裡有很多重要的來賓。
The VIP guests I am referring to are some of the children from Dapeng who I invited to join this gala event. I don’t believe they had ever attended an event like this, and certainly not as honoured guests.
我提到的貴賓是我從大鵬邀請來參加這次慶典節目的孩子們。我不相信他們有參加過任何像這樣子的活動，當然不是榮譽的來賓。
When one of these Dapeng children — a young girl named Hsin-mei — was invited to the stage, the “heart and soul” of this song became vividly clear to all who watched.
當在這群大鵬孩子中的一位叫Hsin-mei的小女孩被請上台後，這首歌的「重心和靈魂」在觀眾眼裡變得清晰生動。
I offer my sincerest thanks to those who commissioned this song, and to all the children who inspired and performed it.
我要向那些參與這首歌的人及所有受益和演出的小朋友們獻上我最誠摯的感謝。
Listen to "Here We Stand"
~Performed by the Shenzhen Secondary School Girls' Choir (choir vocals), Hing Yin-zhong (bamboo flute), Chou Yi-chien (erhu), and Matthew Lien (vocals, all other instrumentation).
~ (c) Matthew Lien / Whispering Willows Music / Warner Chappell 2008. All rights reserved.
While performing concerts in China last year, I was asked by some local businesspeople connected to the Shenzhen city government if I would compose a song for their city.
當去年在中國演奏音樂會的時候，一些與當地深圳政府有關的企業家們問我是否有意願為深圳寫一首歌。
To be honest, I was hesitant at first, because I was uncertain if I could find the "heart and soul" of this city which had been rapidly developed past decades.
老實說，我一開始還蠻猶豫的，因為我不確定我是否能找到這個經過數十年迅速開發城市的「心和靈魂」。
Shenzhen is perhaps best known as a special economic zone established under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平). And while many consider this city to be a great success, I won't share this opinion based on economic developments alone.
在鄧小平領導的帶領下最認知的大概就是深圳這特殊的經濟地帶，當許多人認為這個城市是個重大的成功，我卻不會單獨根據經濟發展這個觀點來下定論。
If I were to create a song for this place, I must first find my inspiration, and economic interest alone would not suffice.
如果我將為這個地方打造一首歌的話，我必須先找到我的靈感，當然單獨以經濟來說並不足夠。
And so I asked to be taken to some cultural areas around Shenzhen. As it turned out, this was not an easy task because so much cultural history had been erased during the Cultural Revolution, and the inner city of Shenzhen was completely rebuilt.
所以我提出到深圳附近的文化區域看看。結果這並不是個簡單的任務，因為很多文化歷史已經在文化革命中給銷毀了，深圳也是全部從新建設了。
As I traveled around the area, I learned more about how Shenzhen had once been a frontier town some hundreds of years ago; an untamed country where people had come in hopes of carving out a new life.
當我都走完附近的區域，我學到更多有關在幾百年前深圳曾經是個邊境小鎮；那裡是一個人們想創造新生活的未開發國度。
This seemed to be a suitable history, as the economic experiment of Shenzhen much later had had again turned this place into a new frontier.
這似乎是個適合的歷史文化，當深圳在進行經濟實驗後也把這個地方變成了一個新的邊境。
During my travels, I was taken to a nearby historic Hakka village called Dapeng (大鵬), and much to my surprise this place had been preserved in its original condition. As I walked the stone streets I felt as though I had been transported back in time.
在我的旅程中，我被帶到附近一個叫大鵬的歷史客家村莊，我意外的發現這個地方還保存著它原本的形態。當我走在石頭所做的街道上我感覺到我回到了從前。
It was here that I discovered a group of children playing in the streets, and I immediately joined them. We walked and played together, and they took me to their village community centre where a traditional opera rehearsal was taking place, and it was these charming children who brought me the much needed inspiration for my composition.
這裡是我發現一群小朋友在街上玩耍，我馬上就融入了他們。我們邊走邊玩，之後他們帶我到他們村莊的社區活動中心，剛好遇到傳統歌劇正在排練中，我最需要的創作靈感正是這些可愛的小朋友給我的。
In the following days I contemplated Shenzhen's "frontier" history and realized that again today, Shenzhen had become a new frontier.
接下來幾天我細心觀察深圳的「邊境」歷史並且發現現在深圳已經成了新的邊境。
In the age of global warming, governments must shoulder a new responsibility to develop infrastructure and policies which will provide a better environmental future for future generations. This responsibility is especially potent for cities such as this which enjoy economic wellbeing.
在溫室效應期間，政府必須承擔開發為未來打造更好的未來環境的基礎建設及政策的責任。這個責任對這個喜愛經濟福利的城市是特別重要的。
It is the children of Shenzhen who will be the beneficiaries of a new environmental frontier, and I composed this song with this as the central theme.
能成為在一個新的環境邊境的受益人正是深圳的小孩子，這是我寫這首歌的主要題材。
When I was producing this song, I was greatly impressed by the Shenzhen Secondary School Girls' Choir who I recorded for this song. Their ability and discipline was added inspiration for me.
當我在製作這首歌的時候，錄製這首歌的深圳高級中學合唱團深深的打動了我，他們的能力和紀律也增加了我的靈感。
The debut of this song occurred at a benefit concert in Shenzhen, where Jet Li and I were two of the prominent presenters. I was excited to perform this song with the xiao (Chinese bamboo flute) master Fan Ray, and the Shenzhen Secondary School Girls Choir, especially because there were some very important guests in the audience...
這首歌的處女秀獻給深圳的一場公益音樂會，李連杰和我是裡面最顯眼的表演者。我非常興奮能與蕭(中國竹笛)的大師Fan Ray及深圳高級中學的合唱團一起表演這首歌曲，更重要的是因為在觀眾裡有很多重要的來賓。
The VIP guests I am referring to are some of the children from Dapeng who I invited to join this gala event. I don’t believe they had ever attended an event like this, and certainly not as honoured guests.
我提到的貴賓是我從大鵬邀請來參加這次慶典節目的孩子們。我不相信他們有參加過任何像這樣子的活動，當然不是榮譽的來賓。
When one of these Dapeng children — a young girl named Hsin-mei — was invited to the stage, the “heart and soul” of this song became vividly clear to all who watched.
當在這群大鵬孩子中的一位叫Hsin-mei的小女孩被請上台後，這首歌的「重心和靈魂」在觀眾眼裡變得清晰生動。
I offer my sincerest thanks to those who commissioned this song, and to all the children who inspired and performed it.
我要向那些參與這首歌的人及所有受益和演出的小朋友們獻上我最誠摯的感謝。
Listen to "Here We Stand"
Sunday, January 11, 2009
"Standing on the Rooftop" - 站在屋頂上
~Composed and produced by Matthew Lien~Performed by Yu Yuan-keng (Taiwanese Opera vocals), Master Zhuang Suona), and Matthew Lien (vocals, all other instrumentation).
~ (c) Matthew Lien / Whispering Willows Music / Warner Chappell 2008. All rights reserved.
My good friend A-kiang (Yu Yuan-keng) asked me if I would like to produce the theme song for a culture festival in Chiayi, Taiwan. Of course, I could not refuse!
我的好朋友阿鏗(Yu Yuan-keng)，問我是否有意願為台灣嘉義的文化節創作一首主題曲。當然我沒辦法回絕！
The main topic of the festival was to celebrate a special type of ceramic art which is created for the rooftops of temples.
文化節的主題是在慶祝為廟宇的屋頂所創造的一種特別的陶藝。
This age-old ceramic art tradition, which features complex designs of dragons and gods, was made famous by the local artists of Chiayi. The Japanese in particular were great admirers of Chiayi's ceramic work during the period of Japan's colinization of Taiwan.
這個古老的陶藝傳統裡，複雜的設計中融入了龍與神明的特色，是由一位嘉義當地的藝術家所製成的。尤其是在日治時代的日本人特別仰慕嘉義的陶藝。
For this song, I recorded the suona playing of the great Beiguan opera master Zguang Lau-shr, and the singing of A-kiang, at my friend's home in Yi-lan.
為了這首歌，在我宜蘭的朋友家，將偉大的北管歌劇大師所演奏嗩吶的聲音和阿鏗的歌唱給錄下來。
I then added contemporary music arrangement, and the English vocal section.
之後我再融入了現代編曲及英文聲音的部分。
The song was very popular during the festival, but it then disappeared with the ending of the festival. And so, I present it to you here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it!
這首歌在活動期間非常的受歡迎，但是它卻在活動結束後消失了。所以，我在這邊展現這首歌給你們聽。希望你們會跟我在製作它時一樣的喜歡這首歌。
Listen to "Standing On The Rooftop"
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