Program Notes:

The title of this piece ‘Pick&Roll’ is a sports term originated from basketball. It is the most common and effective tactic used in the games of basketball. The very initial inspiration of this piece comes from an old-school basketball video from the 1980s which teaches people about the main types of pick&rolls*. The idea of ‘translating’ this form of basketball tactic into music immediately came to my mind. The tactic usually involves two players which is corresponded by two percussionists. In this piece, I used a lot of rhythmic motives to capture the sound basketball makes, or the actions during a game of basketball. These motives then become the main structural foundations of this piece, as they keep getting developed and brought back. As a result, the first half of this piece is more literal transformation from the actual sounds during a basketball game, while the second half becomes a more abstract representation of my own passion towards this game, and is largely based on my own experiences playing this sport.

As someone who went to boarding school at a young age, basketball was my only source of entertainment for a very long time. The bondings I made with my friends during that time while playing basketball, were something so pure and irreplaceable. I want to dedicate this piece to all my friends who share the passion of basketball, as it can always bring us together, despite our differences.