Golden Bird was commissioned by the Ascham School in 2012. Composing a new piece of music about the great Aung San Suu Kyi was an extraordinary experience for the Ascham community and Paul. The community followed the news of her release from house arrest after two decades, her landslide victory in Burmese Parliament, recent diplomatic missions around the world and receiving her Noble Peace Prize after 21 years. The piece evolved as a consequence of historical events. Research was extensive, the inspiration a whole school collaboration. Then one day, miraculously without ever having seen the flag of the National Democracy League of Burma, a year 7 student, Allegra wrote the words “The Golden Bird is Flying”.

Now to research the peacock itself, a spiritually important animal throughout greater Asia. In East-Asian Buddhism the peacock is a representation of the bodhisattva, Guanyin, a female who is immortal but chooses to be mortal so she can stay on earth to look after her people. Translated to “observing the cries of humanity”, Guanyin is the Goddess of compassion, culture, freedom and harmony. This strong spiritual connection between Guanyin and Aung San Suu Kyi is at the heart and soul of this new piece.

“I have aimed to create a work that explores this spirituality connecting us to place, through melody, harmonic textures and strong, simple lyrics. I imagined the cries and hopes of millions of Burmese and the wise words of their fearless leader. I saw Aung San Suu Kyi’s gentle strength, her beauty & compassion, her patience, fragility and her bravery. I hope that we have created a work that honours a great ‘lady’ of our time.”

Paul Jarman

Sample recording from the premier of Golden Bird, courtesy of the Ascham School Choirs