Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán Composition Recording: First Piano Sonata (High School)
2006/9/25 12:20:35
I need to watch the market at noon, so I'm putting up the recording first. I said I'd write the introduction tonight, but then went to the Beijing Hotel in the afternoon for a meeting, followed by socializing, and didn't get back until after 10 PM. I can only write a few casual words.
I wrote this First Piano Sonata while still in high school, before this ID had formally studied composition. The reason I have a special attachment to it is that this was the first time writing a large-scale work -- prior to this, I mainly wrote art songs and some small pieces. Of course, looking at it now, this thing is quite immature, but for a teenager, it's more than sufficient. Those aren't this ID's words. My first teacher at the time was already in his 80s, a student of Xian Xinghai, and a recipient of a prestigious national-level award. The reason he accepted this ID was largely thanks to this piece, along with arias composed to some of Shakespeare's dialogues. He accepted this ID on the spot after hearing them, so having some sentimental attachment to this piece is only natural, even though it can't compare to later works -- it's still worth keeping as a memento.
The first movement of this piece is a somewhat non-standard sonata form, the second movement is a compound ternary form, and the third movement is a set of variations. From strict standards, there are far too many imperfections. The only virtue is its sincerity -- without any ornamentation, even a bit wild, and that's its greatest merit. Another virtue is that there's basically no padding. When untrained people write sonata-type pieces, the most common fault is endless padding. Of course, there's no point looking for any profound ideas in it -- it's just raw energy, unadorned wandering, nothing more. If I were to revise it now, of course it could be much improved, but this piece must not be changed -- not a single note -- identical to when it was first written in high school.
People probably have special feelings about their firsts. This is the first piano sonata; there's also the first symphony, the first opera, and so on, but those are too large to upload. Next time, when I have a chance, I can upload the first atonal work this ID wrote. Atonality isn't as terrifying or hard to accept as people generally think. For now, let's first listen to this First Piano Sonata -- this one is, of course, tonal. Please turn off the background music.
Comments
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/9/25 22:46:33
If I revised it now, that would defeat the purpose. This kind of thing must remain in its original form, not a single note changed.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/9/25 22:45:32
That's right, it was written in high school -- make do with it!