"I have always been fascinated by the vibrant energy that exists in sprouting plants. From a single dull-colored seed that appears to be so frivolous and lifeless, to those refreshingly green and spirited sprouts that spring from it, this miraculous transformation can happen sooner or later than what we would anticipate, and often giving us plenty of surprises along the way.

After the five-note “earthy” entrance of the viola, this piece unfolds in lush sonorities and repetitive figures in the flute and harp, as my musical attempt to capture the kind of freshness and vitality that a baby sprout can bring forth. This “youthful” sound gradually evolves into a rhythmic passage that is intended to depict the persevering power of a seed musically—overcoming all in its upward surge through the great depths of the earth, and moving toward a more spacious and unrestrained environment where sprouts can finally flourish freely above the ground.

This work was commissioned by the Music Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2011."

-Wendy Wan-Ki Lee