In the traditional Chinese culture, the number nine symbolizes the infinity and the ultimate while the number one symbolizes the origin of all things. The title “From Nine to One” is derived from the Buddhism, meaning that when things have changed and developed to the limit they will return to a new start point.
In my piece I am depicting a story like this: A dying soul is telling his life stories to other souls and recalling the happiness of the past. As the life is short and the time fleets, now the Death is coming and leading him towards the road of metempsychosis.
The most important idea to this piece is the contrast of the timbre. The characteristics of HaNi’s folk song are applied to construct the simple melody line, which is continuously imitated and transformed throughout the different timbres and registers, gradually reaching the climax. Finally the whole piece fades out in the finale "The Funeral."
