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israellai · 牆內幾點鐘 / coeng⁴ noi⁶ gei² dim² zung¹ (2023) for soprano and piano

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Premiered on 20 February 2025, in the Drake Devonshire, Ontario, Canada.

Dior Quartet
Noa Sarid, violin
Daisy Rho, violin
Caleb Georges, viola
Joanne Yesol Choi, cello

Four Walls is a spiritual successor to Playwright (2018), also for string quartet. The earlier work was a musical representation of an uncomfortable feeling I used to have, that my experiences and my feelings were not my own, that there was a voice in my brain telling me to feel and behave a certain way, like a puppeteer, or a scriptwriter. Seven years on, I have realised that that voice was a part of me trying to suppress my asexuality, to behave and to outwardly pretend to feel in ways in line with social norms, in order to fit in.

Four Walls is a depiction of that process of struggle and self-discovery. The music is constantly searching and circling, trying again and again to break through the walls to find inner peace. The four walls, an oblique reference to the string quartet, represents the societal expectations closing in on the individual, as he a empts to flee on his own path, away from the voice that's chasing him. It is also a reference to the four walls of a stage - three actual walls and the invisible fourth wall—where the playwright is in control.

#classicalmusic #newmusic #contemporarymusic #composer #composition #musiccomposer #quartet #orchestra #musician

Israel Lai – Four Walls (2024) for string quartet

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00:00 Hi
02:58 The Pitch
10:20 The Name
12:31 What Events?
16:53 More Events
26:32 What Next?

Writing 30 piano pieces for my 30th birthday

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Premiered on 22 September 2025, in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama.

Imogen Morris, cor anglais
Sarah Keirle-Dos Santos, viola
Catrin merch Owen, cello
Kimberly Wong Sheat Yarn, harp

Midnight Coasts (Breton: Aodoù an noz) is loosely inspired by the midnight washerwoman (Breton: kannerezed noz) in Celtic mythology. They appear at midnight at the water's edge to wash the shrouds of those who are about to die.It is advisable to ignore their pleas as they implore passers-by to help with the washing, or one might end up in the shrouds. This piece is based on the eerie imagery of a midnight, where such an encounter may or may not have happened.

Midnight Coasts grew out of research on Breton mythology that I was conducting for another collaboration. These various otherworldly ﬁgures resulted in musical ideas that depict fantastic, supernatural scenes.

#classicalmusic #newmusic #contemporarymusic #composer #composition #musiccomposer #quartet #orchestra #musician

Israel Lai – Midnight Coasts / Aodoù an noz (2025) for cor anglais, viola, cello, and harp

Step into the eerie depths of Breton mythology with 'Midnight Coasts (aodoù an noz)', a haunting new work of contemporary classical music by composer Israel Lai.

Inspired by the chilling legend of the "midnight washerwomen" (les lavandières de la nuit), this piece paints a vivid soundscape of a desolate coast where ghostly figures wash shrouds for those about to die. It's a tale of folklore and fate—a warning to travellers who wander too close to the water's edge after dark. If you encounter them, you must walk away... if you can.

In this video, composer Israel Lai shares the ancient story that inspired this atmospheric and cinematic composition, written for the unique and evocative combination of cor anglais, viola, cello, and harp.

🎶 Hear the World Premiere! 🎶
Experience 'Midnight Coasts' live and be the first to hear this captivating story unfold.

📅 Date: Monday, 22nd September 2025 19:30
📍 Venue: Martin Harris Centre, University of Manchester
🎟️ Tickets: Free entry!

CONNECT WITH THE COMPOSER:
Follow Israel Lai for more updates and new music:
► Website: https://israellai.com/
► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/israellai

This piece is for you if you love:

Contemporary classical music with a strong narrative

Composers like Max Richter, Ólafur Arnalds, or Caroline Shaw

Celtic mythology, legends, and folklore

Ghost stories and eerie folk tales

Atmospheric and haunting soundscapes

Chamber music for harp, viola, cello, and cor anglais

Thank you for listening and supporting new music! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this glimpse into the world of 'Midnight Coasts'.

#ContemporaryClassicalMusic #CelticMythology #WorldPremiere #NewMusic #Folklore #BretonMythology #Composer #IsraelLai #ChamberMusic #CorAnglais #Harp #Viola #Cello #Legend #FolkTale #HauntingMusic #AtmosphericMusic #Manchester #UniversityOfManchester #ClassicalMusic

If you find yourself by the sea at night… 🌙 | #newmusic

Recorded at the Hong Kong Cultures, Arts, and Languages workshop at Leeds University, on 12 June 2025.

00:00 My personal background
03:44 Creative arts as memory
07:50 1. Place
13:49 2. Cultural elements
17:39 3. Resettlement
20:06 Conclusion
21:43 Question 1
23:09 Question 2
26:41 Question 3
28:45 Question 4

Creativity as Memory: Preserving Place and Experience in New Music

23 August 2024 — today marks the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way, and the 5th anniversary of its successor.

Watch 鍊 lin6-2 on @theflock.manchester now.

#classicalmusic #music #piano #pianomusic #pianosolo #composer #musician #newmusic #contemporarymusic #composition #hongkong

Baltic Way at 35 Years 🔗 Hong Kong Way at 5 Years @theflock.manchester

How do you form your first impressions? First Impressions for piano quintet, now on YouTube

Roast my music – In this silent world, these are all the sounds we needed

Roast my music – Perfect Cadence

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