螳螂捕蟬・黃雀在後

每次讀莊子都有很深刻的感動，以「莊子哲學思想」為「經」，輔之以「前衛音樂的語法」為「緯」，創作的「莊子系列」作品具有相當程度的份量與比例。然而莊子哲學的原文譜成室內樂歌曲，對一般人的理解來說難度頗高；所以，它的外文翻譯反而因為文字淺顯，而且版本的選擇多，剛好可以彌補其缺憾。2001年完成之《螳螂捕蟬．黃雀在後》係採用Martin Palmer與Elizabeth Breuilly譯自莊子外篇「山木」「螳螂捕蟬、黃雀在後」為基礎；委託阮安祖先生（Andrew Ryan）重新修訂之英譯本而創作了六重奏曲，並謹此題獻給啟蒙恩師劉德義教授。

本曲為「台北人室內樂團」委託創作，於2001年五月十一日假台北國家演奏廳舉辦「潘皇龍樂展」首演；爾後曾由舞蹈家張曉雄教授編舞，林玉卿教授與「國立藝術學院」音樂系、舞蹈系師生，於該年七月中經教育部遴選代表我國赴德國東部，出席「國際青年文化交流」巡迴演出首演；並於同年八月一日，由原班人員於「國立臺北藝術大學」改名大學慶祝音樂會上，首度在台灣演出音樂舞蹈版。三重奏版電子琴(鋼琴)聲部係由湯詩婷小姐改編，電子琴版並於2001年十月九日由林玉卿、王小尹與湯詩婷假日本橫濱舉辦之「國際現代音樂協會(ISCM)2001年大會暨世界新音樂節(WNMD)」首演。傳統樂器室內樂曲版，傳統樂器聲部係由黃采韻小姐改編，曾經在2002年由林玉卿教授與采風樂坊在歐洲巡迴演出。

莊子「山木篇」「螳螂捕蟬．黃雀在後」的原文如下:
莊周遊乎雕陵之樊，覩一異鵲，自南方來者，翼廣七尺，目大運寸，感周之顙，而集於栗林，莊周曰：「此何鳥哉？翼殷不逝，目大不覩，」蹇裳躩步，執彈而留之，覩一蟬，方得美蔭，而忘其身，螳蜋執翳而搏之，見得而忘其形，異鵲從而利之，見利而忘其真，莊周怵然曰：「噫！物固相累，二類相召也！」捐彈而反走，虞人逐而誶之。

《螳螂捕蟬．黃雀在後》的演奏長度約10’30”，它的英文歌詞與樂曲分段如下:    
Adagio

Andante
Chuang Tzu was wandering through the park at Tiao Ling, when he saw a strange jackdaw come flying from the South. Its wingspan measured seven feet across and its eyes were large, several inches in size. It brushed Chuang Tzu’s forehead as it passed and then came to rest in a chestnut tree.

Adagio-Moderato
“What sort of bird is this,” Chuang Tzu wondered, “with wings so vast but going nowhere, and eyes so large yet it cannot see?” Hitching up his robe, he Hurried off with his crossbow to take a shot at it.

Andante-Allegretto-Allegro
On the way he saw a cicada, which was basking in a beautiful shady spot, without a thought for its safety. Suddenly, a praying mantis stretched forth its feelers and prepared to spring upon the cicada, so involved in the hunt that it forgot its own safety. The strange jackdaw swept down and seized them both, likewise forgetting its own safety in the excitement of the prize.

Largo-Moderato-Allegro-Presto
Chuang Tzu sighed with compassion, Ah! So it is that one thing brings disaster upon another, and then upon itself!” He cast aside his crossbow and was on his way out, when the forester chased after him, calling him poacher!