When illness reared its ugly ahead, Hsiao was in the midst of composing his "1947 Overture" to memorialize the February 28 Incident. As the pain flared up in his chest, he could only think, "Please Lord, let me finish my work.
病發時，蕭泰然正為台灣二二八事件譜寫「一九四七序曲」，當胸口劇痛爆發時，他只有一個念頭，「上帝啊，請讓我完成我的作品！」