Thank you to Xiao Wen for this haunting addition to our Score Follower video series!
The Score Follower video series features new works by Singaporean composers every month, so be sure to check out the playlist for more compositions, and subscribe to our channel if you’d like to be notified of new videos!

“Bioluminescence in certain parts of the ocean is caused by mechanical stress, such as when boats pass by, causing microorganisms such as Noctiluca scintillans to react and produce light. This phenomenon, known by sailors and coastal dwellers as “sea fire” or “blue sand”, is eerily beautiful as the sea becomes momentarily illuminated by splashes of blue light. Expressing natural phenomenons through music is nothing new in the musical realm, but this is my attempt at capturing these fleeting moments of illumination, and showcase the contrast between light and the darkness of the ocean through changes in moods, timbre and dynamics in different sections, as well as exploring extended techniques in the strings.”