About the Album

An ocean-themed work extending from the 2013 album Coastland, Light Shining Through the Sea turns its gaze toward Taiwan's eastern coastline and the vast Pacific Ocean that surrounds the island's smaller outlying isles.

The ensemble traveled repeatedly to the east coast, drawing inspiration from the dramatic reef formations at the Hualien–Taitung border, the ancient Alangyi Trail, the schools of batfish off Green Island, and the crystalline seabed surrounding Orchid Island.

The opening piece, set at Shihtiping in Hualien, uses a five-beat piano figure to evoke rolling currents, while the strings each take on distinct roles — representing ocean streams, tides, waves, and the spray breaking over the reef rocks. Another movement shifts to the Alangyi Trail, where foam washes over smooth pebble shores.

The eastern coastline of Taiwan holds a particular magic where steep mountains plunge directly into the Pacific, creating a landscape of dramatic contrasts. This album captures the sensation of standing at the edge of the island, watching light shift across the water's surface as morning mist lifts from the sea. The compositions weave together the sounds of waves against ancient coral reefs, the calls of seabirds echoing off limestone cliffs, and the quiet rustle of wind through coastal forests. Each piece reflects a specific place along this rugged shore, inviting listeners to travel alongside the ensemble through soundscapes shaped by salt air and ocean light.

The ensemble's approach to this oceanic theme extends beyond mere representation into something more contemplative. By immersing themselves in the coastal environment, the musicians translate the rhythm of tides and the texture of sea spray into chamber music that feels both expansive and intimate. The interplay between strings and piano mirrors the relationship between land and sea—sometimes gentle, sometimes turbulent, always in conversation. This work continues the group's ongoing exploration of Taiwan's natural landscapes, offering audiences a sonic doorway into the island's less-traveled shores and the quiet stories they hold.

Connection to Coastland

Where Coastland (2013) explored Taiwan's western coastal wetlands, Light Shining Through the Sea completes the journey by facing the open Pacific. Together, the two albums form a diptych of the island's shores — one looking inward across tidal flats, the other outward across deep water.