This composition portrays through music the artistic conception found in the Chinese writer Su Shi’s (1037-1101) poem “Calming the Waves.” The poem speaks of the weather in nature as ordinary and indistinguishable, and how the political situation, honor and disgrace, and gain and loss in social life are also insignificant. I used a melodic element of the Chinese folk song “Little Cow Herding” as a main theme of my work, because some of the lyrics of this folk song record hardships or pleasures of ancient Chinese heroes. The open-minded temperament of these heroes is consistent with the character of Su Shi's words. The first part (mm. 1-58) starts with the original melody of the folk song “Little Cow Herding,” presented by woodwind and brass instruments, creating an open-minded and long-lasting artistic conception. The second part (mm. 59-369) depicts the poet walking under a storm and his tolerant attitude, introducing a new fast pentatonic melody as the image of the rain comes up with some variations of the folk melody. Finally, the third part (mm. 370-420) is relatively static, mainly played by harp and percussions with colorful harmonies provided by strings in the background reflecting a calm and slightly tipsy feeling.
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