Psalm 13 (2019)
SATB Divisi
7′
Psalm 13 is a depiction of David’s struggles with his inner thoughts and how it interferes with his religious experience. This negativity is circular, as demonstrated through the repetitive structure of the first stanza, and his escape is seemingly unattainable. David is later freed through his “trust” in the “light”, and he celebrates the Lord’s “unfailing love” through “praise” and worship.
I’ve illustrated this story by having the canonic vowels eventually progress into a melodic chorale, thus juxtaposing the depths of David’s anguish and euphoria. A sense of structure is also reflected through the pacing of the words.
I composed Psalm 13 in search of a middle ground between my Mother’s musical taste and religious stridence with my own, and I found great joy in discovering her appreciation for my pursuit of religious insight. It is my Mother who first sparked my love for music; and all that I hope to be, is because of her.
Composer/Conductor: Foo Jeng Wong
Mixing/Recording Engineer: Jeffrey Means
Sopranos: Taylor Bailey, Natalie Oronzo
Altos: Jillian Carelli, Marcela Panizza
Tenors: Shibo Sun, Aidan Vogel
Basses: Christopher Jimmy Lim, John Moorman
Album Art: Sara Kwon
Seeking Passage (2019)
Piano and String Quartet
7′
The journey that this piece presents is one that reflects my own struggles with transitioning into adulthood. I had previously thought that my naïveté would have faded into the past, but it is the opposite that bears the truth. Perhaps it is the realization of our own ignorance that signals the end of their coming of age, and the acceptance of this fact silences the over-thinker in our heads.
These thoughts are represented as a motif that is unmasked, revealing the depths of its complexity when heard under further scrutiny. The changing roles of the piano further emphasizing the idea of ‘passage’. Moreover, the narrative juxtaposition between the beginning and end of the piece serves as an apt metaphor to embody my self reflections of both my naive past, my inner insecurities and my inevitably uncertain future.
Piano/Composition: Foo Jeng Wong
Violin 1: Bengisu Gocke
Violin 2: Brian Urra
Viola: Louie Lau
Cello: Emmanuel Keller
Engineer/Mixing: Gabriel Gomez
A Day and Forever (2019)
Prepared Piano and Electronics
1.5′
This piece was commissioned by Yeoh Choo Kuan, a painter who strikes a balance of Eastern and Western ideals in his work. He gave me the monumental task of representing his art (A Day and Forever No. 5) through music, and here’s the result of that collaboration.
Artwork: Choo Kuan Yeoh
Piano/Soundscape/Mixing: Foo Jeng Wong
wong foo jeng | 黄辅正 