little island

for string quartet
ca. 16’45”

The idyllic Greek island of Samos (or paradise on Earth, according to one friendly restaurant owner), with its winding streets, pristine beaches, and ancient ruins, might seem a whole lot different than my urban hometown of Hong Kong. Yet, I was hit with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia the moment our plane touched down. Perhaps it is the sprawling, towering mountains that embrace its towns; its proximity to water and the prevalence of seafood; or its warm, welcoming inhabitants; but being in Samos felt like I was transported back to my childhood in Hong Kong——a simpler time, before I had to worry too much.

It was through this nostalgic lens that I wrote little island (2024), which features five vignettes that particularly moved me during my residency in Samos: clear blue ocean glinting and rippling in the sun, the joy of discovery as we zigzagged through its twisting streets, two swallows swooping and diving into the water in turn, The Temple of Hera standing undeterred through centuries of change, and how the sea must have crashed and roared through time——a constant source of hope and fear throughout Samos' storied history. What a testament to its strength, culture, and people that Samos has stood for so long. Would my home, my culture, and my nearest and dearest——as I experienced in my idyllic childhood——be able to do the same?

little island was written with the generous support of the Schwarz Foundation as part of the Samos Young Artists Festival; Masha Ilyashov and Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin, Artistic Directors.

Performances: