Parallel to Goethe and Schubert’s Gesang der Geister über den Wassern (“Song of the Spirits over the Waters”), the three ancient Chinese poems in this piece also offer a profound meditation on the relationship between nature and the human soul. These classical Chinese texts, centered around the majestic waterfalls of Mount Lu, evoke a similar sense of awe and introspection found in Goethe’s verse. Through the imagery of water—a symbol of impermanence, hidden depths, and spiritual longing—both traditions explore the mystery of life, shaped by unseen forces and drawn inevitably toward a greater, transcendent power.

The poems juxtapose moments of stillness with sudden turbulence, mirroring the emotional and existential ebb and flow of human experience. They reflect on the fragility of life, the beauty of nature, and the quiet resilience of the spirit in the face of time and change. Together with Goethe’s and Schubert’s work, they form a cross-cultural dialogue that bridges centuries and geographies.

Musically, brief quotations from Schubert’s Wassern are woven into the fabric of the piece, subtly reinforcing the connection between the two worlds. Scored for three male voices and three low-string period instruments, the work features texts sung or spoken in Chinese, German, and English. This multilingual setting highlights the universality of the themes, while the timbral blend of historical instruments lends a timeless resonance.

I am deeply grateful to KlangForum Heidelberg e.V. for the commission, which offered a meaningful opportunity to explore a transcultural journey—from East to West, from the ancient to the contemporary—through the shared language of poetry and music.