Program Notes
Written by Jared McCunnie, Vengeance is a through composed test work, exploring the inevitable destructive nature of acts of revenge. The work is loosely inspired by the tale of the Trung Sisters in Vietnam around 40 AD. This tale opens with heartbreak; the Chinese governor overseeing his country's occupation of Vietnam orders the death of Thi Sach, a Vietnamese local complaining about increased tax rates. However, Thi Sach's wife, Trung Trac and her sister, Trung Nhi, came together and raised a rebellion army of 80,000 Vietnamese fighters. Together, the Trung Sisters drove out the Chinese forces, reclaiming their country. Vietnam enjoyed three years of peace and freedom from Chinese rule, as Trung Trac becomes the queen of Northern Vietnam. However, acts of revenge are never quite so simple, and about 43 AD, Chinese General Ma Yuan returned to Vietnam with the full strength of China's finest army. The Trung Sisters and their army fought bravely, but they were no match for the full force of the Chinese empire. The Trung Sisters were ultimately killed and many of their supporters were executed.
