Sky Lanterns
Chamber Orchestra | Grade 5+ | 11′ 30″ | 2025
Score + Part (Digital PDF)
(For performance inquiries, please contact the composer directly.)
Sky Lanterns is inspired by the Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where lanterns are released into the night sky as symbols of letting go of misfortune. As a Thai composer, I was moved by the festival’s spiritual beauty and cultural meaning, but also mindful of the risks it can bring. This piece reflects both the wonder and the caution that surround the event.
The music opens with ascending gestures and shimmering textures that evoke lanterns rising into the sky. Pentatonic melodies float above delicate sounds—string harmonics, crotales, and piano—suggesting the gentle glow and quiet awe of the moment. The atmosphere then shifts to a joyful celebration, with energetic rhythms and bright brass figures capturing the excitement of the crowd.
As the piece unfolds, a darker tone emerges, hinting at the potential danger when lanterns are mishandled. Tension builds through distorted motifs and layered textures, before dissolving into a quiet, reflective conclusion. Echoes of the opening return, reminding us of the beauty of the tradition, and the importance of celebrating it with care and mindfulness.
Commissioned by the ArtZenter Institute; World Premiered by San Francisco Contemporary Music Players (Conducted by Eric Dudley Herbst Theatre, San Francisco) September 5, 2025
