November 1997
I lost my irreplaceable partner
on my musical journey,
Chang Yu-sheng (Tom).
I couldn't shake the feeling of unreality after his sudden departure, until two months later, when I finally burst into tears on a night of heavy rain. Despite being in my fourth-floor apartment, I vaguely heard the cries of a small animal outside. On a traffic island with cars constantly rushing by, I found a dirty little puppy. Her appearance was like a salvation to me, filling the void in my heart. Her name is Rain.
A few years later, I saw a TV program about the must-read Japanese fairy tale Night on the Galactic Railroad, and learned that Kenji Miyazawa wrote it after his beloved sister passed away. I suddenly understood that this story was written for "those who are left behind." And that I, and we, should continue to look for happiness.
And so, I happened to receive an opportunity that I am still grateful for today, and I submitted a proposal to the then National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center (now the National Theater & Concert Hall). In 2005, the multimedia happiness music theater The Night Train to the Star, in collaboration with the Off Performance Work Group, was born.
September 23, 2005
Premiere of the multimedia
happiness music theater
'The Night Train to the Star'.
＊ Including rehearsals and the press conference, all 10 shows over four days at the Experimental Theater were completely sold out.
＊ In the same year, the show toured to the Hsinchu Railway Art Village and Stock 20 in Taichung.
＊ This was the first time we successfully submitted a proposal to a national institution under our company, "Indies Media Inc.".
In 2005, the theatrical soundtrack was released at the same time as the premiere of The Night Train to the Star, and it was nominated for the "Best Crossover Album" at the Golden Melody Awards the following year.
＊Cheng Yungsan wrote the lyrics and sang the theme music, which is included only in the album.
《通往天河的車票》
曲 Koji Sakurai 詞 鄭詠珊
Good night
親愛的夜已亮起來
數著星星感覺依賴
依賴你睡前說的一聲 Good night
聽著 淚不知不覺流下來
月亮說你早已不在
不再有你的笑容 我的未來
擦去眼淚
知道你不要我頹廢
離開眷戀
走向明天
笑著 我試著讓自己明白
天空中劃過的流星
那不是你的眼淚 別再傷心
握著通往天河的車票
我總感覺迫不及待
期待再見你一面 笑得開懷
擦去眼淚
擦不去那許多後悔
怎麼回到每個昨天
天河盡頭 你過得快樂而灑脫
是否聽見我的問候
風吹過來
夜已亮起來
數著星星說 Good Night
2007 Ju Percussion Group
"Winter Concert — Wood Strikers"
Continuing the opportunity for collaboration that began the year before, members of the Ju Percussion Group who had seen the live performance of The Night Train to the Star highly recommended this work. And so, I newly arranged and composed the percussion ensemble piece 'Another Night on the Galactic Railroad', performed together by 20 marimbas and more than 40 musicians.
we collaborated with Mr. Wing Theatre Company to restage The Night Train to the Star. For the music part, due to the expansion of the plot, two new pieces and a vocal version of the theme song were added. This performance used holographic projection, and featured multimedia imagery designed by Very Mainstream Studio.
2018 Ju Percussion Group
"A Kind of Longing"
In 2018, the Ju Percussion Group specially planned and produced the "A Kind of Longing" concert. All the pieces were composed or arranged by me. Among them, due to the adjustment of the instrumentation, 'Another Night on the Galactic Railroad' was renamed as 'Another Night on the Galactic Railroad' — Terminus Version.
Thanks to the Ministry of Culture's "Active Arts and Culture Relief Plan Grant," I, forced to cancel my performances, teaching, and event plans due to the pandemic, stayed at home and re-examined the entire music theater work The Night Train to the Star. I reorganized the storyline and set about arranging it into a "sextet" version.
The entire piece is divided into four movements: "Sorrow," "Joy," "Parting," and "Melancholy." On the one hand, I hoped to break away from the fairy-tale feel of the name The Night Train to the Star, and on the other hand, to more clearly point out the emotional focus. Therefore, this sextet work was named Sketches from the Journey - the Joy and Sorrow of Life, quietly waiting for the opportunity to be presented.
After proactively submitting a proposal to Weiwuying in Kaohsiung in 2023, we gained the opportunity to participate in the Weiwuying "Showtime" series in December 2024. Based on the sextet 'Sketches from the Journey - the Joy and Sorrow of Life', we added the role of a "storyteller" to connect the whole story, making it another "Storytelling Concert" work following 'Deep Lake Man'.
The story of 'Sketches from the Journey' adds what I wanted to express into the context of the original work, so it is more like a chapter of my autobiography, coming from my true experiences and feelings. I hope that while it comforts me, it can also bring a little warmth to those who have had similar life experiences.
June 18, 2025 We hosted a performance of the "Storytelling Concert" 'Sketches from the Journey - the Joy and Sorrow of Life' ourselves at the National Recital Hall.
The audience was "star-studded." Many mentors, partners, and close friends from our life and work came to support us. Being able to immerse ourselves in the music and stories together with everyone, laughing and wiping away tears together, I felt incredibly blessed.
Perhaps at first, creating 'The Night Train to the Star' was just for myself. But twenty years have passed. Even the greatest sorrow should be relieved, and even the deepest reluctance will be let go.
As we grow older, we will all face more and more losses. If my works can bring a little comfort to more people, that would be the gentlest closure to this regret in my life.
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