For violin and piano
Commissioned and written in Hong Kong 2019-2020.
For Alice Siu
Premiered in Zwolle, The Netherlands, August 2020.
Rearranged for viola and piano
For Hong Kong New Music Ensemble Season Opening 2021
Recorded in 2022. Released in 2023.
已訝衾枕冷 ， 復見窗戶明 。
夜深知雪重 ， 時聞折竹聲 。
—— 白居易 （ 772~846 ）
承蒙友邀 ， 業畢一鳴 。 斗換星移 ， 物轉人非 。
經歷甚多 ， 鬱愁成曲 。 默封兩年 ， 破繭重筆 。
黑暗中㝷找曙光 ，
困鬥間等待黎明 。
作品寫於香港社會動盪之時 。生於斯 ， 長於斯 ， 觸感而發 。
曲如風悲鳴 ， 寥音寫胸懷 。
行到水窮處 ， 坐看雲起時 。
二零二零年・八月
Surprised by the coldness of the quilt and pillow,
The reflected brightness outside the window can be seen again.
Deep in the night the heaviness of snow is perceived,
As at times the cracking of bamboo can be overheard.
– translated; Chinese original by Bai Juyi (772~846)
In darkness we persevere in looking for the twilight,
Through struggle s we endure until the day shall dawn.
The piece was written during the social turmoil in Hong Kong, where the composer and the commissioning violinist were born. Inspired by the ancient Chinese poet, the expressive recitative supported by the atmospheric piano accompaniment narrates a moody state of sentimentality, echoing the resonance of indignation and suppression. Snow at Night also leaves footprint of contemporary aesthetics and the unique milieu that is derived from the composer's and violinist's background.
August, 2020