Musical improvisation in Taiwan weaves diverse, multicultural influences from traditional to contemporary practices across various musical genres. The rhetoric articulated by performers reflects the prevailing socio-cultural milieu and historical context, serving as a medium for the convergence of artistic tastes and expressions.
This album extends Hsuan Chang Kitano's previous research on musical improvisation in Europe and Asia from the 17th to 19th centuries. It provides insights into her engagement in cross-cultural productions from 2019, establishing connections between the technical nuances of traditional Chinese music and "historically informed performance" (HIP). Additionally, this collection explores the development of improvised music in Taiwan during the 21st century with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary performance and cross-cultural production. Through this analysis, Kitano introduces ten contemporary improvisational approaches encompassing “decorative improvisation,” “variational improvisation,” “adaptational improvisation,” “stylistic improvisation,” “motivic improvisation,” “narrative improvisation,” “arranged improvisation,” “conceptual improvisation,” “free improvisation,” and “contemporary improvisation.” Each style offers an avenue for exploration, either independently or in combination, fostering a conducive environment for innovation and expression.