[Mezzo-Soprano, Piano]
Yidi Jiao, Claire, December 1, 2023

Program Notes:

“Two Poems by Bei Dao” is a vocal setting of poetry by Bei Dao.

Bei Dao (simplified Chinese: 北岛 born August 2, 1949) is the pen name of the Chinese-American writer Zhao Zhenkai. Among the most acclaimed Chinese-language poets of his generation, he is often regarded as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. In addition to poetry, he is the author of short fiction, essays, and a memoir. Known as a dissident, he is a prominent representative of a school of poetry known variously in the West as "Misty" or "Obscure" Poetry.

This set of art songs include two movements:

I.           All (一切)
II.         Chord (和弦)

The first movement is slow, quiet, and mysterious. The second movement is energetic and optimistic. The musical emotion is subject to interpretation, as is Bei Dao’s enigmatic poetry. The form of the two movements is the same as the form of the poem.