
TAIPEI -- On a recent afternoon, around 500 people gathered in a central Taipei park to hear the premiere of "Ode to Democracy," a piece of classical music composed in memory of the victims of a dark chapter in Taiwan's history.
Against the hum of traffic, the orchestra, choir and soprano singer performed the composition by Chung Yiu-kwong, better known in North America, Europe and East Asia for his percussion work and musical interpretations of Chinese philosophy and folklore than any political overtures.