1. Introduction (Spiritual Dance)
2. Song of Grown-ups
3. Song of Children (Song of Teaching)
4. Song of Flower
5. Song of Play
6. The Sacrifice to God: a. Introduction, and b. The Battle Song
7. Song of Mourning
8. Revenge
9. Rebirth
Year of Composition: 1976
The Sacrifice to God is a cantata inspired by the indigenous culture. It was first performed by a male chorus and a string orchestra, and was later expanded to a piece performed by a mixed chorus and a symphony orchestra. This work reflects Li Tai-Hsiang’s exploration of his Amis heritage and his sentiments for his unfamiliar mother tongue. He used music to portray the spirit and life force of the indigenous people, creating a story about a social totem, “the Great God.” In this story, the people gradually develop their independent cultural thinking, which eventually leads to the destruction of the restrictive “Great God.”
In terms of the music, Li used part of the “Head-Hunting Song” from the Wufeng District of Chiayi County (now the Alishan region) and created a fictitious Amis language to express various sentiments, such as sincerity, justice, and kindness. The music is primarily percussion-based, blending Eastern and Western musical instruments, even those of Indonesian Gamelan music, endangering rich tones and expansive sonic layers. With a music style more complex and concrete than the traditional indigenous music of wind instruments in Taiwan, The Sacrifice to God is one of Li’s highly popular and often performed pieces. It is not only a fresh interpretation of the indigenous music but also a tribute to the indigenous culture, fully displaying his profound understanding of music and culture, as well as his distinctive talent in integrating the traditional with the modern.
Source: Chiou, Joyce Y. Senior Musician Series, Vol. 20—Li Tai-Hsiang: The Beautiful Mistakes. Taipei City: China Times Publishing, 2002.
