作曲随想

1. Arise

The iphone ringtone has always been Arise. I savor the endless possibility in it every time I hum with the catchy melody, so I decided to experiment with it in my second composition.

The first variation is in C mixolydian. The back-and-forth chord progression between Bb and C brings out the adventurous flare and leads to the raging storm of C harmonic minor.

Following the dignified cadence, the third variation is accompanied by duplets of 3rds and 5ths. The kawaii rhythm and carefree melody paint out the pine in my mind.

Fascinated by Grieg’s music, I employ Norwegian scales in the next variations. Inspired by Avatar’s film music that creates in my mind the mix of light pink and blue on Norwegian sky, I modulate constantly between C major and C minor to blur the tonality.

There are so many ideas still, that I'm reluctant to end. Drawing inspiration from Brahms，I use the F major chord to shift the tonality at the very last second, taking the piece not to an end but to a new beginning. 

2. The Destruction of Sennacherib

Divinity and power in The Destruction of Sennacherib by Byron attracted me the moment I read it. Imagining troubadours singing the story in wilderness, I wrote the piece.

The piece starts with calm piano ostinatos, just like the troubadour strums his lute and says “once upon a time”. He tells the story of Sennacherib—the main melody presented by the violin. Led by the ethereal chanting, his audience become soldiers of Jerusalem, as the piano and violin restate the main motif in unison.

In the highlight of this story, the lead embodies the dangerous and overbearing Assyrians who come down like wolves. Thunder drums thump. The army as large as the Sea of Galilee approaches.

Suddenly, an angel of death spreads his wings in the lighting of a coming storm. Drum beats halt, as the heart of Assyrians stops. The rain falls relentlessly on the “sleepers waxed deadly and chill”. Only the crying of the widows of Ashur still echoes distantly, as the legendary story lingers in people’s mind.

3.Childhood

After figuring out that I need an “idée fixe” in my composition, I looked back into my past to collect my true self piece by piece.

What comes first is a soft, warm lullaby, with violin pizzicato that brings out the mischievous essence of a child. I was carefree and innocent when I was three or four, except being super naughty.

As I grew up, I began to develop my own ideas, but I was naive, as the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star weaved in the melody.

Frustrated by the complexity of reality, I was lost. The Happy New Year played in loneliness symbolizes my feeble struggle in every new year.

I wanted to take a lead and fight again, but I was only chasing my own tail.

It was Jazz that interrupted the melancholy ambiguity. Now I’ve found one piece—music. Every one of my ideas in the past recapitulates in my mind with the motifs that appeared earlier in the composition, but this time with resolution. Stating the Twinkle Twinkle again, I’ve returned to childhood and claimed back my long lost dream.