Composer Li-Ying Wu

I was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and spent my childhood surrounded by the enchanting melodies of classical music, particularly those of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. My family's love for music ignited my early interest in the art, leading me to embark on a musical journey with piano, cello, and composition as my primary focuses. In 2003, I completed my studies with a Master's degree in Fine Art from the National Taiwan Normal University.

During this time, I serendipitously discovered the Danish music of Ib Nørholm, Per Nørgård, Niels Rosing-Schow, and Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen. The diverse musical languages of these composers and the artistic freedom they represented in Denmark fascinated me. It became clear that Denmark was the ideal place to further my musical education in Europe. Since 2003, Copenhagen has been my home, where I studied composition at the Royal Danish Music Academy under the guidance of mentors like Bent Sørensen, Niels Rosing-Schow, Hans Abrahamsen, Ejnar Kanding, and Hans Peter Stubbe Teglbjærg. In the fall of 2010, I embarked on my Master's studies in electronic composition at DIEM in Aarhus.

My approach to music revolves around the exploration of sound and its evolution throughout a composition. I place a strong emphasis on the meticulous treatment of instruments and sound, a characteristic that extends to my work with electronics. My compositions unfold in forms that can be likened to sculptures rather than traditional dramatic narratives. The musical journey is expansive, revealing itself gradually, and the procedures take the form of spirals—a kind of sonic "zoom." Beneath the cyclical surface, one can discern a simple harmonic structure often rooted in Chinese scales, adding a distinctive and personal touch to my musical works.

On a broader, almost philosophical level, my music engages in a dialectic of ideas, offering a reciprocal perspective on both Asian and Western cultures. This duality is reinforced by my exploration of new paths and possibilities within the dynamic interplay between electronic and acoustic instruments.