Cheung-Heaven and Earth Ballet (SP)-V/X/2M/P

Heaven and Earth is loosely based on creationism. While there are certain moments in the music that relates to my Chinese heritage, the subject matter itself is quite universal. This piece explores the ethereal ideal of ‘Heaven’, the powerful grounding of ‘Earth’, and the place in between these opposites where union and peace can be found.

This ballet was conceived in 8 movements.

Detailed instrumentation (6-7 Players)

• Heaven: 1-7 Players. Solo marimba with optional ‘starlight’ instruments, which can include crotales, wind chimes, temple bowls, triangles, or any other high ringing metal instruments that sounds like starlight.
• *Also optional, players may drop dry ice chips into large bowls of water placed near the front of the stage for theatrical effect.
• Angel’s Dance: 3 Players. 2 marimbas and 1 vibraphone
• Earth: 1 Player.Solo o-daiko or bass drum.
• Time: 6 Players. Lead Gong (low Thaigong and high woodblock); Percussion 1 & 2 (o-daiko or bass drum, shared); Percussion 3 (high Chinese opera gong and o-daiko or bass drum); Percussion 4 (o-daiko or bass drum, and gamelan saron or vibraphone with finger cymbals); Percussion 5 (Chinese opera gong and 5 medium to large Thai gongs or other ‘melodic’ resonant metals)
• Birth: 5 Players. Percussion1 (1 pair of bongos or shime-daiko, 6 tom-toms high to low, bass drum);Percussion 2 (shime-daiko or high bongo and low tom); Percussion 3 (shime-daiko or high bongo and medium-low tom); Percussion 4 (shime-daiko or high bongo and medium tom); Percussion 5 (shime-daiko or high bongo and medium-high tom)
• Mankind: 6-7 Players. Marimba 1;Marimba 2 with suspended or China cymbal; xylophone and vibraphone with low gong and optional crotales; Percussion 1 (bass drum or o-daiko); Percussion 2 (bass drum and shime-daiko or bongo, wind gong); Percussion 3 (bass drum, chu-daiko or conga, suspended cymbal or China cymbal); Optional Percussion 4 (jing cymbals)
• Union: Marimba duet
• Finale: Same as Mankind

- Pius Cheung