Clarence Mak was born in Hong Kong. After graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Pennsylvania State University in USA, studying electronic music and composition, he returned to Hong Kong and has been teaching composition electronic music and theory at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). Clarence Mak is currently Head of Composition and Electronic Music at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.
The Shining Sunset, For flute, B-flat clarinet, violin, cello and piano: The title of the work reflects a sense of the last splendor and a spirit of the never-ending pursuit in the rest of time. The music makes predominant use of contrasting textures and the three groups of tone color comprised of the wind, string, and piano. Similar gestures appearing in different registers and the liner movements which highlights the individual character of the instruments are used to express the energy of the sun while the sustained chords provide the contrast with a static mood.
Richard TSANG (b.1952) Born in Hong Kong, Dr.Richard Tsang is noted as a broadcaster, composer, conductor, as well as a promoter of contemporary music. He has taught as a lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong during 1984-86 and since 1986 is Head of Radio 4 of Radio Television Hong Kong, responsible for planning and executing the only classical music radio station in the Territory.
Chasing Shadows (1998) - Rhapsodic Movement for Clarinet in A & String Quartet: The title of the work reflects a sense of restlessness and pursuit, as well as providing a connotation of the interplay of light and shades. On a more musical level, this piece makes predominant use of imitation techniques, a parody on the image of shadows being repeatedly cast over a landscape. Structurally the works is a string of variation sections in free form, always developing with a strong linear character. It does not really need an end as different manifestations could be generated from the basic musical ideas which comprise mainly of interchanging semi-tones. A brief coda concludes the movement by recapitulating various elements throughout the course of the work.
Peter Myers studied composition with Prof. Keith Humble and Dr. Theodore Dollarhide at La Trobe University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with first class Honours, and a Master of Arts in composition and music analysis, Myers undertook private studies in composition with Prof. Eugene Kurtz in the USA.
Whorls: A whorl is defined as 'a circular arrangement of like parts, as leaves, flowers, etc., round a point on an axis, a vertical.' Analogously, the harmonic material in Whorls, which evolves from the constant rotation of intervals in such a way that harmonic tension and pitch class content are in a state of constant flux, expands and contracts like spirals round fixed axis notes. At several points in the piece, the harmony 'thins' and axis notes are clearly stated as open octaves. In keeping with the notion of circular arrangements, the work has the form of a large arch comprising many distinct sections some of which are themselves palindromic. Whorls is scored for clarinet, bass trombone, vibraphone and piano.
