Sep. 10, 2008 - Issue #673: Sex in the City 2008

Sonata for Flute and Piano Op 7

Lai makes connections

Joseph Lai is not your typical image of a composer. He is not the solitary tortured artiste holed up in some cramped apartment plucking out melodies for nobody. He is a collaborator, someone who enjoys working closely with other musicians who he is proud to call his friends, and someone who enjoys the work of composing so much that he is willing to spend long hours at his piano both by himself and with others so that it comes out perfect. Furthermore, he’s not afraid to put the work into making his compositions come alive—Lai takes a DIY approach to booking his performances and to his publicity.
 

And sometimes it is because he works collaboratively that his pieces even exist. His newest piece, Sonata for Flute and Piano Op 7—which will enjoy its second performance ever this weekend—came about through a meeting with the flautist he will be performing with, Elizabeth Faulkner. 
 

“I met Liz two or three years ago—the Da Camera singers performed a work of mine called The Sound of the Trees. Sound of the Trees is for mixed chorus, flute, oboe and piano and Liz had been hired to perform the flute part,” he explains. “The flute part is quite difficult and Liz performed it brilliantly. I was so impressed with her artistry and her playing that I talked to her about doing a brand new work specifically with her in mind.”

 

From there, Lai set about actually creating the work, and as he did he and Faulkner collaborated in order to find the best way for Lai’s piano and Faulkner’s flute to interact.
 

“I certainly have set ideas in mind compositionally, but I’m a firm believer in the adage that you can always learn from your performers. For instance, there were certain things I did in the flute sonata where once in a while Liz would say, ‘Well, Joe, it might sound better this way,’” he says. “For me [working collaboratively] is very healthy and productive, because then I get the ideal from the performer. It’s always a learning process.”
 

In addition to growing his circle of friends and colleagues, Lai would also like to see appreciation of classical music grow in the city of Edmonton. There are so many types of music available to audiences these days, he explains, and classical music isn’t exactly doing itself any favours by being as arcane as it has become.

“Classical music, I think it’s still viable but composers have to get their heads out of their asses. They can’t write inaccesible music. I think there’s a place for it, but if you want to connect with your audience there has to be a healthy middle ground,” he says. “I don’t think you have to make a concession and be untrue to yourself, but the musical language should be something not too difficult so that people can understand.” V 


Sun, Sep 14 (3 pm)
Sonata for Flute and Piano Op 7
By Joseph C Lai
Performed by Lai and Elizabeth Faulkner
Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10037 - 84 Ave), $15/20

 

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