Violinist Te-Chiang Liu,Hsin-Yin Min,Hsuan-Tzu Wei, Yi-Hsuan Lin / Violist Kent Cheng,Yi-Ming Chen / Cellist Arianna Wegley, Hayley Nelson / Pianist Hsin-I Huang
This song was written in the year 1967 while the author worked as a piano tuner and mechanic in Tai-Chung. The author got the inspiration from the experience of missing and asking his wife who at that time lived in Hua-Lien the question, “Will you come?”. The melody is tranquil and beautiful.
Lyrics:
You come quietly at dawn.
While the light beam of early morning hasn't shined upon on the balcony,
you walk in the garden full of dew on the ground and pluck a rose with dew sitting on.
Listen to my dream from last night in which I returned to my homeland.
The homeland is filled with fallen leaves and autumn wind.
You come quietly in the afternoon.
While the brilliant sunshine at noon is still wandering in the shadow of trees; the birds are also dozing off and stop singing loudly;
Be careful, do not wake them up because their songs brings more sadness of my nostalgia.
You come slowly after the dusk.
While the evening sunlight gradually disappears to the clouds; the moon just shines its light on the window.
I am waiting in front of windowsill.
You play beautifully on the strings. The old melody from the childhood often makes me tearful.
This tone of the song is drifting like a nomad wandering. It describes the author's desire of pursuing the goal, anxiety about uncertainty of the future, and the nostalgia about the homeland.
Lyrics:
Don't ask me where I am from because my homeland is far away.
Why I wander? Wander to far away land. Wander.
For seeing the birds flying in the sky;
for seeing the creeks in the mountains;
for seeing the prairie in the open space, I wander to far away land. Wander.
Moreover, for seeing the olive tree in my dream.
Don't ask me where I am from because my homeland is far away. Why I wander? Wander to far away land. Wander.
For seeing the love trees in my dream.
The song tells about a person who cannot help but clinging deeply with the land where he was nurtured.
The land provides nutrition, from which the dreams are conceived. Even though the sojourner traveled around with the dreams in his mind, he would never forget the promise to the land where his soul would desire to return.
Lyrics:
I grew up on the land; I turned strong nurtured by the land.
Therefore, I love my homeland; I especially love the fragrance of the land.
When I was little, I lied on the land like clinging on the mother's chest, singing childish songs.
Bury the days and sadness all together.
She tied a pair of wings on the arrow of my cognition; I daily ran after the larks and flied toward the blue sky.
I learned from the land like from a mother to be diligent, modest, and generous, as well as the etneral goal.
During many years (for this goal), I am wandering everywhere.
Among the crowd, I am sturdy like a steel.
Twenty years past. A dream. The hope spreads its seed in my dream.
I will sail back one day.
Then I will turn my life to a kiss on her chest.
Afterwards, let's say goodbye; let's say goodbye.
I shall still sing on the way of farewell.
Still sing. Still sing.
This is a children song originates from Hakka culture. The song is full of childlike imagination.
Lyrics:
Under the moonlight sat a young scholar
A boat waited for him; a wagon carried him
To the middle of the river
He saw shrimp and hairy crabs worship the dragon king
The dragon king plucked a flower with his claws
And presented it to a young lady to take home
The young lady laughed, smiling broadly
The song is about recalling the old tree of flowers from the memory. The old tree of flowers carries the memory from the youth. The experienced old tailor sitting under that tree had made a lot of clothes for the young girls. The number of them is as many as the flowers on that tree.
Lyrics:
Under the tree of flowers, have you ever heard?
Under the tree of flowers, there planted many beautiful tress.
Under the tree of flowers, have you ever been there?
There were bloomed full blossoms.
When you walk past, the red and white flowers rain down in front of you, on your shoulders and under your feet.
Under the tree of flowers, there was a sewing shop and lived an experienced old tailor.
He handmade a lot of clothes for as many girls as those flowers.
There are so many girls that you cannot count.
There are so many flowers that you cannot count.
Under the tree of flowers.
Violinist Te-Chiang Liu,Yi-Ming Chen / Violist Kent Cheng / Cellist Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Teng-Kuan Wang
This is a Hakka folk song, which vividly expresses the adoration to a young girl who is beautiful like a flower and elegant like a jade. The melody with unique Hakka style seems to bring the audience back to a Hakka village. The audience seems to able to vision this young lady walking by; and suddenly, you may feel the flush of getting eye contact with her and keep yourself a wonderful memory.
Lyrics:
Beauty Queen of Eighteen
Dazzling as a flower
With charming pearly whites and rosy lips
May I ask, pretty lady
Who do you long to see day and night?
Which lucky man has won your heart?
Oh, Beauty Queen of Eighteen
Dazzling as a flower
Beauty Queen of Eighteen,
Dazzling as a flower
Pretty as hibiscus
The mountain blooms with peach blossoms
And crysanthemums like you
May all the lovers in the world
Bond like mandarin ducks
Blessed with eternal love
The song with the soothing melody is about the girl in the old time who had a long braid. She loved to watch the opera with her big bare feet. The beautiful girl, when will you get married?
Lyrics:
Still remember about you
Still remember about you
You had long hair . You loved to see the juggling.
You liked to climb over the fence. You liked to pluck flowers and gave away.
Still remember about you
Still remember about you
You were in the homeland.
You desired to follow the group to perform.
You watched the heavy rain on the threshing floor.
You desired to leave from here to far away.
Peach Blossoming
Violinist Michael Chu / Flutist Huei-Mei Jhou/ Violist Kent Cheng / Cellist Arianna Wegley / Pianist Bianca Liang
The song is a simple conversation between a man and a woman. It's interesting to see these they both are probing the other person's mind for knowing if they are falling for each other.
Lyrics:
When the peaches blossom and the chrysanthemums turn yellow
My pretty young lady, I’d like to ask three things from you:
First, where do I find a pillow for lovers? Second, where do I find an ivory bed?
And third, my dear young lady, where do I find medicine to save my life?
When the peaches blossom and the chrysanthemums turn yellow
How can I have the three things you asked for?
You can find the pillow in a department store, the ivory bed in a carpenter’s shop
And your life saving medicine at a drug store, my handsome boy.
When the peaches blossom and the chrysanthemums turn yellow
My dear lady, the answers are all about you:
Your jade-like hand can be our love pillow. Your beautiful body can be the ivory bed
And you, my dear young lady, can save me with your love!
Oh, my dear handsome boy, how did you know that I have good things in store for you?
I do have the three treasures born from my parents. If you cherish them, I can share them with you
Oh, my dear handsome boy, if we become lovers, then we shall never separate. You know that right?
The unforgettable
Daddy's Kite
Violinist Te-Chiang Liu,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Hsin-Yin Min,Yi-Hsuan Lin, Michael Chu / Violist Kent Cheng,Yi-Ming Chen / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Hsin-I Huang
This song uses kite as a metaphor to describe the image of a traditional Taiwanese father: he does not express his love through his words, but rather through his responsible care for his children all the times. As the lyrics say: a person's life was like a kite which flies with the help of wind. However, sometimes it flies into the clouds and cannot see clearly where it is. The higher it flies, the foggier it can see. Remember! Don't forget the hands who hold this kite. Don't forget your initial dream.
Lyrics:
My father once taught me to make a kite.
He said to me, “Do you know that our life is like a kite flying in the sky? The stronger the wind blows, the higher the kite flies. Sometimes it flies into the fog; sometimes it is cheated by the wind to fly astray.”
My father once brought me to fly a kite.
He said to me, “One day, you may fly away like a kite. The higher you fly, the foggier you can see. When you fly higher, don't forget the hands once holding the kite.”
The kite is flying. The kite is flying. It flies through the dream I always keep as a little child.
The kite is flying. The kite is flying. It flies through my immature fantasy.
Unforgettable Love
Violinist Te-Chiang Liu,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Hsin-Yin Min,Yi-Hsuan Lin, Michael Chu / Violist Kent Cheng,Yi-Ming Chen / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Hsin-I Huang
The movie, "Unforgettable love", with the same name of the song, was on the big screen in 1961. It is a sad love story about two lovers who met each other and fell in love in a short time. However, they broke up due to the misunderstanding of each other caused by the uncontrollable circumstances.
After they came across again, the man told the lady a lie for the sake of saving her from breaking her heart so that they ended up with separation again. In the end of the movie when they finally met again, the lady died soon due to the incurable illness.
The happy time they spent together can only replayed in the memory with the regret in their minds forever. This story reminds us of cherishing our beloved ones before it is too late.
Lyrics:
Unforgettable, Unforgettable
Can’t forget your wrongs, Can’t forget your goodness
Can’t forget the walk in the rain and the hug in the wind
Unforgettable, Unforgettable
Can’t forget your tears, Can’t forget your smiles
Can’t forget the sorrow of the falling leaves, and the agitation of the blossoming flowers
The lonely alley is now shining under the declining moon
The empty swing is rocking gently against the breeze
Like it’s repeating your request to forget, and forget
While I can only reply with a humming voice that it’s hard, and hard
Unforgettable, Unforgettable
Can’t forget that spring has ended, Can’t forget the withered flowers
Can’t forget the agony of separation, and now the pain of nostalgia
Memory
Violinist Te-Chiang Liu,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Hsin-Yin Min,Yi-Hsuan Lin, Michael Chu / Violist Kent Cheng,Yi-Ming Chen / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Hsin-I Huang
The author is asking how she can search from the past memory which is like shadow and a dream.
Her thought of missing someone is so deep that she cannot keep herself as usual.
Lyrics:
While the beautiful spring flowers bloom, I think about her.
The memory is like the dew, so light while the wind blows.
I cannot let go the dream in which the shadow of tree is dark and heavy.
When can the young dream be returned easily to me?
Think about her. Dream about her.
The dream in the past flies back to my side like shadow.
My lover, where are you? How come I cannot find you?
While the beautiful spring flowers bloom, I think about her.
The memory is like the dew, so light while the wind blows.
I cannot let go the dream in which the shadow of tree is dark and heavy.
My lover, when will we see each other again?
Intermission
The Four Seasons - prelude from the Four Seasons Rhyme
Violinist Te-Chiang Liu,Hsuan-Wen Lin,Hsin-Yin Min,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Michael Chu, Yi-Hsuan Lin / Violist Kent Cheng,Yi-Ming Chen / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson /Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Teng-Kuan Wang
This song is about the pleasure of the two lovers hanging out during the four seasons.
The viewers feel envious to see the sensational sight of these two lovers who deeply fall for each other.
Spring 1 from Vivaldi
Violinist Hsuan-Wen Lin,Hsin-Yin Min,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Michael Chu, Yi-Hsuan Lin / Violist Kent Cheng,Yi-Ming Chen / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson /Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Teng-Kuan Wang
Spring 2 from Vivaldi
Violinist Hsuan-Wen Lin,Hsin-Yin Min,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Michael Chu, Yi-Hsuan Lin / Violist Yi-Ming Chen / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson /Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Teng-Kuan Wang
Spring 3 from Peach Blossom Country
Violinist Hsuan-Wen Lin,Michael Chu,Hsin-Yin Min,Hsuan-Tzu Wei, Yi-Hsuan Lin / Violist Yi-Ming Chen, Kent Cheng / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Teng-Kuan Wang
The song is using the butterfly plum flowers as a metaphor to describe the strong bounding between the two joyful lovers.
Violinist Hsuan-Wen Lin,Hsin-Yin Min,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Michael Chu, Yi-Hsuan Lin / Violist Yi-Ming Chen, Kent Cheng / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Teng-Kuan Wang
"The Plowman's Song" describes the interaction between a man and a woman working in the field. They both work hard under the scorching sun for the better harvest. They do not complain about the hard work in the field, which is the true spirit of the farmers.
A farmer plowing his farm with his cow is very common in the country in Taiwan. This song started by farmers humming to themselves to pass the time as they worked. It slowly turned into a singable song over time.
Lyrics:
With the bamboo hat to cover the head from the sun,
I hold my husband's hand and walk to the field;
Sweating while the sun scorches, we cooperate and work hard for our living.
My dear husband, sweating while the sun scorches. We work hard for our living.
I paddle the water mill near the water gate.
I hold my wife's hand to the field before the morning dawns.
The water is icy cold to my bone; we cooperate and work hard for our living.
My dear wife, the water is icy cold to my bone. We work hard for our living.
We hold the ox plow to break up the soil.
I encourage my husband that we do not complain for the hard work.
We cooperate and work hard for our daily meals.
Summer 2 from Vivaldi
Violinist Hsuan-Wen Lin,Hsin-Yin Min,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Michael Chu, Yi-Hsuan Lin / Violist Yi-Ming Chen, Kent Cheng / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Teng-Kuan Wang
Summer 3 from Vivaldi
Violinist Hsuan-Wen Lin,Hsin-Yin Min,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Michael Chu,Yi-Hsuan Lin / Violist Yi-Ming Chen, Kent Cheng / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Teng-Kuan Wang
Autumn 1 from Vivaldi
Violinist Te-Chiang Liu,Hsuan-Wen Lin,Yi-Hsuan Lin,Michael Chu,Hsuan-Tzu Wei,Hsin-Yin Min / Violist Yi-Ming Chen, Kent Cheng / Cellist Arianna Wegley,Hayley Nelson / Double Bass Tiffany / Pianist Hsin-I Huang
The dim street light shines upon the three-lane street. It reflects the inner anxiety of waiting for the lover. The shadow of the trees and the sound of the cicadas disturb the person with more bitter sadness.
The song is about the lady feels sad with regret about the first lover she fell for while she sits alone in the cold night.
Each of the objects she saw around her reminded her of the bitter and hateful memory.