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Gaudeamus presents young music pioneers. ‘Things hoped for, things unseen by Shih-Wei Lo performed by Miriam Overlach. Recorded live at TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, 11 September 2016.
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Those who visited the Dutch Harp Festival in 2014 have perhaps encountered Shih-Wei Lo before. Things Hoped for, Things Unseen was performed then as well, by Utrecht harp player Miriam Overlach. It was awarded the first jury prize at this composition competition. Things Hoped for, Things Unseen has a special place in this Taiwan composer’s oeuvre. It was the start of a new phase in his career. When he was still a student he wondered to what extent his music could adopt a social role. He grew up in a pratical environment with a family background in business and the medical world. He did not see the direct connection between society, their work in his own music. With Things Hoped for, Things Unseen he sought that connection, touching upon the subject of the death penalty in Taiwan. “I try not to preach or give answers. Music can be a medium for people to reflect and connect, a space to listen and think about these sorts of issues in society. It is a way to share my thoughts on the world.”