As if in a dream

Like many Hong Kong students, I first encountered this Song-dynasty poem during my secondary school days. I came across it again when I was searching for inspiration for this commission, and I was captivated by the beauty and simplicity of the lines and the rhythms inherited within the text.
This setting features contours derived by the fluctuating intonations when the poem is recited in Cantonese, along with some irregular meters. By transforming the poem into a mixed-voice choral work, in which the lyrics of all parts are intelligible, I aim to offer a refreshed interpretation of this beautiful poem and provide a medium for singers to appreciate the beauty of Cantonese—the mother tongue of many Hongkongers—while embracing the richness of Chinese literature through music.