The autumn of 2005 is special in my memory—it arrived suddenly, and faded away at an extremely slow pace. It was amazing for me to listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves, and to watch how those trembling leaves changed their colors over time. In response to those enchanting colors and sounds, that autumn I composed these two orchestral tone poems.
The first poem, Sough, dipicts the murmurous sounds of the trembling leaves in the wind. I designed the textural proportions of the strings and the other instruments to reflect how nature and human beings are represented in traditional Chinese landscape painting: Nature always dominates the scene and dwarfs the human inhabitants. Even though nature occupies such a prominent position on the canvas, tiny human figures hidden in nature are indispensable for a landscape drawing; humans are the spirit of nature. In this tone poem, the strings symbolize nature, and a few wind and percussion instruments symbolize the human inhabitants.
In contrast to Sough, the second poem, Glowing Autumn, explores the full palette of a chamber orchestra. The coloristic transformations and the bold dramatic gestures in this poem present us with another way of perceiving the autumnal landscape: As humans become deeply enamored of nature, they take nature into their spirits. The boundary between humans and nature blurs, and then fades. They have gradually become one, breathing in and out, expressing feelings, emotions, and thoughts.
Comments [41]
The piece is so sensitive! The composer has such a sensitive ear and heart for chamber orchestra. I can not wait hearing how he would compose a piece for Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
very compelling piece! bravo!
we nee more music like this
Your piece is very evocative of the things that memories are made of. The vibrations in the last few seconds of Glowing Autumn brought me back to the wonder of childhood, the wonder of the clock striking time in a timeless impression. Thank you for that.
I was deeply moved by this piece, indeed, as I saw myself, heard my own heart beats, and sensed my very own impulse of being, belonging and yearning, following these sparkling moments: 00:08 self-identity; 2:30 In the wonderland; 4:04 Sense of belonging, a nostalgia; and, 4:37 A delicate sigh. Bravo, my buddy!
So moved by this music! It flows so naturally and so mysteriously. This composer has a very keen perception of timing and sound colors. I will definitely keep paying attention to his future works. please upload more music of his!
I'd listen to the piece many many times. Excellent!
An evocative tonescape of colors and moods that keeps the listener alert and the players motivated to realize the composer's statement. More to his credit is the fact that his use of a chamber orchestra is full and never overdone.
The lyricism that the piece carries is rare among today's new music. Many young composers today highly focus on the intellectual side of the compositional process and ignore the important essence of music -- a way of communication. A good piece can not only elicit the audience's intellectual curiosity (to make the audience think), but also offer the audience a rich emotional experience (to make audience remember what they think about the piece).
I think Yao's Glowing Autumn has this power. Under the colorful and mysterious orchestral sounds, there is a soul calling for understanding.... The brief melody by the muted trumpet near the end of the piece penetrates into my heart.... Hope to hear this piece in London.
I love this music. It is the more beautiful!
Each time I listen through this, I'm awed: It's like I'm really walking through a breathtaking landscape. The music is very digestible and inspiring -- and the tones are positively delectable! Curiously, the piece actually reminds me more of winter than autumn...
how beautiful it is! it could be bravo , if we could get ur CD collection.
this is Chinese characteristic music.After hearing, it make our heart calm and us dive into a beautiful Chinese landscape painting
what a beautiful piece!!!
This piece is a poem indeed. Elegant and controlled. imaginative and touching.
Bravo
it is such a beautiful music I ever heard,coloful and delicate timbre......
A beautiful piece Chen: this is the highlight of my night of writing. looking for inspirations in you.
This piece is definitely one of the best among the music of these 60 composers.
So many co-independent individual voices in, definitely a big fun for chamber orchestra... each musician can be a soloist...
This music moves me! As an experienced concert goer, I look for music not only original but also has an emotional power to move people. I think the composer of this piece effectively achieve these within just less than 5 mins.
I will definitely pay further attention on this composer's music.
gorgeous. incredible.
This is a very eloquent and beautiful piece. I can only imagine that it is also a fun piece for the musicians to play as they have so many interesting lines and figures. You did a beautiful job of creating interesting timbral colors and keeping the music going without going on too long. The muted trumpet and pizzicato ending only makes me want more...I can only hope we get to hear more of your work in the orchestral and chamber world!
This is a very eloquent and beautiful piece. I can only imagine that it is also a fun piece for the musicians to play as they have so many interesting lines and figures. You did a beautiful job of creating interesting timbral colors and keeping the music going without going on too long. The muted trumpet and pizzicato ending only makes me want more...I can only hope we get to hear more of your work in the orchestral and chamber world!
Beautiful music! That's just the piece of music that comes from nature and fades in nature. I also love your encoding of painting within music. Good job! I hope more people will get chance to listen to it!
It's a masterpiece! Melancholy and sensitive! It will make a great piece for a movie!
a very absorbing piece! feels good after listening to it
Such a fresh musical air... so poetic.. his talent definitely deserves to be discovered more
i am very impressed by your mastering of arrangements, intruments, and your style. Your music communicate something wich is very sensitive.
I really like the sound world - can't wait to check out more of his music.
I cannot believe that you have lived in US for long time. How to compose the title in a such city like Chicago...
C'est tres bon!
Very Chinese and very poetic!
There is something very truthful in the music...
This is an elegant work with much that is subtle.
Impressive and elegant!
Mellifluous but complex, delicate but passionate, interesting but profound - this is the music of Yao Chen
So visual, dimensional, and exciting! You are AMAZING!!!!
bravo!!
What a beautiful piece!
Dear, I am so proud of you. I truly hope that I could invite you to compose the soundtrack music for my movie.:>
Cheny, beautiful, amazing, love it! I feel like we heard this music together at Blackstone...? Those nice old days......I miss them!
Beautiful, Chen! :)
I feel some winds and rain drops....
This is a very absorbing contemporary music work... Not difficult to understand.. Like a painting...
Wonderful, Yao Chen. I am hovering on the shimmering surface of a moonlit ocean....
I love this music. It is beautiful.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.