Keywords in Creation

Keywords in Creation

To explore freely one’s style and review one’s own world amidst the torrent, to write down music notes in a space that is beyond time, and to accomplish breakthroughs from existing rules. Lam’s ceaseless experiments of music have nurtured his 20-year-long creative journey. What are the deep-seated elements in his oeuvres?

Dream Ordinarily, Lam’s compositions crop up during mid-nights when everything is silent. He describes them as refined, melancholy, and melodic. The endeavour resembles the moment when our mind loses the temporal sense, or rather, the forming of a vague dream and the soft murmuring during sleep.

One of the key words of Lam’s writing is dream, which is naturally adopted as the motif of the current concert. Lam hopes to constitute a hazy world with his dreamy music penned all these years. Under such an unrestricted imaginary space, audience could, according to their instantaneous moods and thoughts, detach themselves from the reality to rest and relax, and eventually immerse themselves into a spiritual journey fabricated with music.

Dreamscape, 2014

Dreamscape delivers a sense of eternity and portrays a soft dialogue that transcends time and space. Rendered with sub-octave pipe organ and strings, the completely slow-paced score set up a soundscape that is hushed and packed with nuanced changes. Solo of each of these two instruments appear alternately, contributing to an atmosphere of sensibility.

Slowness Dreamscape premiered at St. John's Cathedral in 2014

In a city that prioritises speed, “slowness” captures precisely a rebellious spirit. This is the creative space Lam needs most and the “recession” he hopes to manifest through music.

anothermountainman deploys his photos for the visualisation of the show. The coherence of stage and visual designs is sustained by the main axis “slowness”. Whether it is the 300 fps slow motion pictures or lighting effect, the setting gives off an air of “slowness” that deserves to be appreciated attentively. All these highlight the distinctiveness of the event.

Before a Passage, 2021 Characterised by minimalism, this experimental soundscape, conducted with cello, piano, saxophone, and singing bowl, constructs a dreamy world that feels both virtual and real. The chamber music version of Yet Another Dream retains the saxophone solo from Before a Passage. Before a Passage –a panoramic short film

Dreamy Illusions

Apparently melodic, the performance is devoid of any regular format. Uncertainty permeates through Lam’s music invariably. When the emotion has reached the zenith, as the audience assumes, it escalates again after some rests. When the tune seemingly halts, it lingers on without end.

Interpreted by Stanley Wong, such music concept - veering between illusion and actuality - is connected to Zen chanting or hymn singing. The sutra which reads “all things contrived are like dream, illusion, bubble, and shadow” demonstrates the lack of substantiality of dreams. Human life consistently oscillates between vagueness and concreteness as well as reality and illusion.

Illumination, 2005 Premiered by BBC philharmonic Orchestra, this is an unprecedented chamber music version of Yet Another Dream. A few dramatic cadences have been added to represent the three stages of realisation in Buddhism retrospection, awakening and realisation. Illumination –symphony version original recording

Exercise

An Interval of Thought

A vessel with a pine tree on board is sailing on the sea – this is part of the Heaven on Earth series by anothermountainman and the key visual of Yet Another Dream. What does it mean to you personally?

Quiet your mind and observe and perceive thoroughly. Jog down any connotations and thoughts you have about the picture.

The same illustration may inspire numerous associations and ideas. The fleeting thought that comes to the mind may reflect your preference, desire, and frustration at the present moment. Through this self-retrospective exercise, try to contemplate on your true self without influences by others.

mirage in his eyes oasis from your angle for me… it is heaven on earth