Incense and Flowers (2002)

Incense and Flowers is a double concerto for harp, yangqin, and intercultural orchestra. The title refers not only to the visual images but also to the ethereal feelings the sounds of harp and yangqin evoke. Lightness and dazzling colour, an escape into the virtuosic, cascading blossoms of sensuous sound... The duo soloists reflect the dual lyric/rhythmic character of the music, creating a natural ebb and flow to the formal structure. The duo also represents the combination of two cultures and two distinct musical heritages.

The desire to compose Incense and Flowers came directly from working with the two soloists, Heidi Krutzen and Vivian Xia. The combination of harp and yangqin, flowing and fluid much like incense, directly inspired the opening melody. It is this flow of sound that I most identify with the spiritual or sacred. The art of musical performance is the sharing of a common spiritual experience. Incense and Flowers is an offering of music An offering to increase the beauty in this world.

Mark Armanini