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Jason Kao Hwang: Myths of Origin

By Jerome Wilson
August 20, 2025
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Violinist and composer

Jason Kao Hwang

composer / conductor
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Kao Hwang has worked with groups of every size, from duos up to full orchestras. "Myths of Origin" is one of his large-scale pieces, an imposing 42-minute work for an improvising string orchestra and drum set. It runs without interruption, but the recording breaks it down into nine sections.

The music starts slowly, rising in a mass of seething bowed strings with a slight trace of Asian melody. It progresses into a dense cloud of buzzing accented by single drum strikes from

Andrew Drury

drums
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Drury, and solo bits of guitar and violin. By the time the "Multiply and Rise" section begins, the sound has congealed into a menacing march with one violin wildly soloing a hoedown on the top. That spreads out into a gauzy gliding reminiscent of the strings on the orchestral

Mahavishnu Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Mahavishnu Orchestra album, Apocalypse, (Columbia, 1974), but decorated with drum and cymbal rattling. Bouncy interplay between the cellos and violinist

Elena Moon Park

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Elena Moon Park follows, leading to heavy, muffled beats and quiet bowing on "Landmarks Vanish." Drums and sawing violas dominate for a bit until the guitars step up with circular chopping figures as the bowed strings swirl.

"Where Fools Fear" returns briefly to the massed orchestral swarming. Then the bass and drums settle into a slow rocking heel-and-toe rhythm and the string sections gradually pick up the tempo. A later highlight sees

Che Chen

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Che Chen's guitar quietly churn against the bowed violas of

Ginger Dolden

viola

" data-original-title="" title="">Ginger Dolden and

Pete Lanctot

viola

" data-original-title="" title="">Pete Lanctot. The slow rock beat comes back heavier and louder on "Anthem of Knowing." As things roll on towards the end, single violins wail above a creeping whirlpool of sound that eventually recedes into an epilogue of groaning bass and wobbly cello.

This piece transcends all kinds of genres, throwing folk, classical, rock, funk, and jazz elements into its stew. It moves like an unwieldy but soaring sonic edifice as the musicians pull together with an impressive unity of purpose. This is a powerful work, some of the heaviest music Jason Kao Hwang has created to date.

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Track Listing

The Collapse of Gravity; Spin Fast and Burn; Multiply and Rise; Dust Gathers Around Sleep; Landmarks Vanish; Where Fools Fear; Ancestors of Light; Anthem of Knowing; Never Forgotten.

Personnel

Jason Kao Hwang

composer / conductor

Charles Burnham

violin

Mark Chung

violin

Keir GoGwilt

violin

Elena Moon Park

violin

Johnna Wu

violin

Ginger Dolden

viola

Pete Lanctot

viola

Eric Salazar

viola

Kirin McElwain

cello

Anders Nilsson

guitar, electric

Hans Tammen

guitar

Ken Filiano

bass

Andrew Drury

drums

Additional Instrumentation

gabby fluke-mogul, Rosi Hertlein, Gwen Laster, Ben Sutin, Tom Swafford: violin; Melanie Dyer, Judith Insell: viola; Dara Bloom, Lester St. Louis, Tomas Ulrich: cello; Che Chen: guitar.

Album information

Title: Myths of Origin | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Self Produced

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