Me and My Shadows—for sheng and ensemble is a concerto composed for one of the oldest Chinese traditional instruments, the traditional sheng, with a Western ensemble through new music idiom. This piece was composed in 2023 and served as my doctoral dissertation project, representing a culmination of my musical journey to date, primarily reflecting the outcome of research and experiments during my doctoral program in music composition over the last four years. This work is driven by profound reflections on timbral exploration, sound innovation, and the contemplation of cultural and personal identity, opening new avenues within cross-cultural musical mediums.

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I envision the sheng and ensemble engaging intimately in this piece, while each preserves its distinguished timbral features. The sheng embodies a humble yet powerful aura, showcasing a bright, pure timbre that speaks of its heritage and unique characteristics. The ensemble is a fusion of flowing sounds encompassing various timbral gestures. I aim to venture into animating intimate instrumental interactions, examining timbral possibilities, and viewing the ensemble as a sonic extension and external timbre resources of the solo sheng. The instrumentation for this work includes the solo instrument—a traditional sheng with 27 reed pipes—and the ensemble, which consists of a flute (doubling on piccolo), bassoon, percussion, piano, and a string quartet. This instrumentation enhances dialogue among the instruments, facilitates in-depth exploration of timbral experiments, integrations, and interactions, and broadens the sonic and expressive capabilities of the sheng through its partnership with Western instruments. The ensemble serves a multifaceted role, responding to the sheng by coloring, merging with, amplifying, and contrasting its sounds. The intricate interplay between the soloist and the ensemble symbolizes the profound influence of cultural heritage on personal identity, as suggested by the piece’s title. Me and My Shadows, represents how someone’s cultural backgrounds and heritage follow them like shadows, silently and seamlessly integrating into their soul. The concerto navigates these interwoven relationships with sensitivity and depth, mirroring my experiences straddling Eastern and Western musical influences and a diverse cultural legacy, that deeply resonate with my artistic and musical journey. My piece strives to provide fresh perspectives that bridge cultural heritage and musical traditions, enriching the contemporary music scene.