Stranding, Whalefall (live) by Huijuan Ling published on 2021-12-15T05:06:06Z In an ideal world, after a whale’s death, the body sinks all the way down to the bottom of the sea. The body degrades, nourishing the environment which has supported the whale for its entire life. This is a harmonious cycle: what gained its form from the sea eventually, after the end of its life, gives that form back to the sea. But this harmonious cycle may not always be the case: because of the ultrasonic pollution, usage of GPS, and humans dumping waste into the sea, whales are finding themselves confused and dying stranded inharmoniously on the beach. The image of two dead whales, one laying on the beach with its body all twisted and crushed, and one silently sinking down to the deep sea, inspired this piece. In silence and noise, Standing, Whalefall reflects on the inharmonious and harmonious decay. Stranding, Whalefall was originally written for Zhudi, Pipa, Erhu, Morin Khuur, Violoncello, and Percussion, and is rearranged in 2021 for the Weekend of Chamber Music. Emi Ferguson - Flute Mari Sato - Violin Caroline Stinson - Cello Chris Lennard - Percussion Ieva Jokubaviciute - Piano Premiered on July 24, 2021, at 2021 Weekend of Chamber Music, Eddie Adams Barn, Jeffersonville, NY. Genre Chamber
