Edward McGuire

Programme Note

The new one-act ballet Tian Dì Yuán (Defying Fate) and the presentation of the new arrangements of Chinese traditional music for Chinese and Scottish instruments is a culmination of several months of activity made possible by McGuire's receipt of a Creative Scotland Award. This has also included research into Celtic-Chinese cultural links and the history and techniques of Chinese music itself.

Story : A poor ox herder is stirred from his dreams by a heavenly melody. Arising, he dances, with the reality of his poverty and hard work facing him. His vague dreams become suddenly more real when he spots a group of fairy weavers who have temporarily escaped their chores in heaven - but as they fly off, one is left behind and he befriends her. They share common woes and fall in love. Their homelife blossoms and they are thrilled to have a child. Now, a year on earth equals just a day in heaven and the heavenly powers realise one of their workers has not returned. A fierce, angry goddess comes to take her back. She confronts the weaver girl while her husband is out working. Determined not to be parted from her mortal child and husband, the weaver girl resists. The ox herder returns home just as she is being dragged away and gives chase. He has learned the secret of flight from a wise old ox and the chase takes them through uncharted regions of space and time. Just as he is about to save her from her fate, the Goddess creates a river of stars to keep them apart. You can still see them, shining brightly on either side of the Milky Way - he with his child at his heels. So determined are they to meet, that a bridge of fairies grant their wish one a year - on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese calendar.