This piece for solo piano was commissioned by the André Dumortier International Competition for the 2016 competition’s semifinal round. The competition established a special prize for excellence in the performance of this piece.
The title of the piece, “Lune solitaire et silencieuse,” is inspired by a verse from “Chant de Yangzhou” by Jiang Baishi (1155–1221), a Chinese poet and musician of the Song Dynasty. The poet recounted his melancholy feelings following a visit to the famous historic city of Yangzhou (founded in 486 BC) during the winter of 1196. The changes this capital city had undergone over time meant that it had lost its former splendor, which deeply moved him.
The concept behind this piece is a reflection on the passage of time in human life. The first phrase of the piece uses a few notes from the song as a reflection. Furthermore, the note “D” is the main note throughout the entire piece; it also serves as the opening and closing note, in memory of André Dumortier. Moreover, this work is my own way of representing “Clair de la Lune,” a tribute to two respected masters, Beethoven and Debussy.