No. 2 A Grasshopper Teasing A Rooster 草蜢弄公雞 (2006)

for viola & piano

From Tunes Heard in My Childhood

The story behind this folk tune was to depict the shyness of an old man looking at a young beauty, and his rapid heartbeat reserved his adoration and obsession. The original folk tune was very repetitive (4 out of 5 phrases have the same pitch and rhythm on the beginning 7 pitches.) The challenge for me was to keep the spirit of the original tune, but at the same time to create a fun piece (meaning not so repetitive) to play. Enjoy!

Commissioned by

I-Chia-Tseng, violist