Snow on the River
2020
Performance forces:
sop — orchestra (1.1.1.1 – vib, mar, hp, cel, solo zhonghu (or solo vla) – str)
Length:
0:03
Languages:
Notes:
柳柳宗元《江雪》
千⼭山⻦鸟⻜飞绝，
万径⼈人踪灭。
孤⾈舟蓑笠翁，
独钓寒江雪。
Snow on the River by Liu Zongyuan
On thousand mountains no sign of birds,
On ten thousand paths no trace of man.
A boat and an old man with straw rain cape,
Fishes alone in cold river snow.
The poet, tired of the boisterous political scene in a declining Tang Dynasty, uses minimalist words to paint a pure quiet landscape that is nowhere to be found in the real world. As the poet himself had been exiled from a tumultuous political scene, the poem also conveys a sense of isolation, sorrow, and loneliness.
Despite being over 1000 years old, Snow on the Riverresonates with pandemic times — we can certainly understand the feeling of isolation under lockdown and seeking peace, away from politics.
Alternative instrumentation: sop and fl, lb, hp, cel, str 4tet