If Mountains Still Remember (2019)

for solo piano and string orchestra

 

山無陵  江水爲竭

冬雷震震  夏雨雪

天地合  乃敢與君絕

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When the hills are all flat,

The rivers are all dry.

When it lightens and thunders in winter,

When it rains and snows in summer,

When heaven and earth mingle,

Not till then will I part from you.

—— 《上邪》Shang Ye

 

First written in 2015, this composition was inspired by the above Chinese poem, and the work tries to imagine a world after such vow is made. The overall structure and harmonic treatment are representation of my earlier style. Upon revision of the work for this performance, I have included some more up-to-date techniques to reflect my more recent thoughts in composition.

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​Background: Wutai Mountains, Shanxi, China