Ilha Formosa: Requiem for Formosa's Martyrs

The composition is based on a 1994 poem in Taiwanese Hokkien by Lee Min-yung [zh].

The heart of the requiem is the second movement in which the male and female soloists in lyrical phrases remember those who suffered in the White Terror and throughout Taiwan's history.

In the andante first movement, the island's most ancient voices offer their wisdom and admonish newcomers to give themselves completely to their new home.

The third movement, in march tempo, encourages survivors of suffering to rise above their pain.

If you ask about the island's past, I will tell you blood and tears have dropped onto Taiwan's feet.

And this humble tapestry of dreams just sketches our hope for this beautiful country: a green peace.