Graduating Student Recital | Qiutong Lin, piano | 一念 TENET

Mirror 镜

Etude in c sharp minor, Op.42 No.5 Alexander Nikolaievich Scriabin 1903

Scriabin’s etude in c sharp minor Op.42 No.5 was written at the end of 19th century-1903, which was an important period of the transition from romantic music to modern music. While inheriting the romantic tradition, scriabin constantly explores the new boundary between harmony and melody. This etude is the embodiment of his innovative spirit. The music is based on c# minor, which lays a deep and melancholy emotional background. Melody lines are like tears, wandering between high-pitched and low-pitched areas, as if telling inner struggles and contradictions. Rhythm, irregular stress and changeable beat give the music a strong sense of dynamic.

Piano Sonata No.8 Op.13 2nd movement Ludwig van Beethoven 1798

The Sonata of Pathetique was written between 1798 and 1800. It was in the turbulent period of the French Revolution. Social changes and personal ear diseases intertwined, which deeply influenced Beethoven’s creative mood. His works were full of his struggle and thinking about fate, and the second movement was the unique expression of warmth and philosophical thinking. The movement is an adagio, with A flat major, which is in sharp contrast with the excitement of the first and last movements. The melody is soothing and weeping, and every note contains inner tenderness and love for life. The simple and simple theme is promoted layer by layer in the variation, which seems to look back on the past and seek comfort in a difficult situation, showing the powerful emotional depth and spiritual strength in Beethoven’s music creation and comforting and encouraging countless listeners.

Music Moments Op.16 No.4 Sergei Vassilievitch Rachmaninoff 1896

In 1896, 23-year-old Rachmaninov wrote Moment of Music, among which the fourth one was particularly brilliant. At that time, he had just graduated from Moscow Conservatory of Music, and his life was very difficult, and he even worried about his livelihood. Part of the reason for his creation was to earn income. At the same time, his first symphony failed, which brought him a heavy blow. In such difficulties and setbacks, he poured his inner complex emotions into his works and expressed his inner struggles and expectations for the future with music. At the beginning of the music, the lyrical melody flows slowly, full of romanticism, just like an inner whisper. Subsequently, the rhythm is varied, and the harmony levels are gradually stacked, creating a strong emotional tension through frequent tone sandhi, vividly showing the inner struggle and desire.

Blossom 花

Sontina M.40 Maurice Ravel 1905

Ravel’s Sontina was written in 1905, when the French music industry was experiencing a collision between tradition and innovation. Under the influence of impressionism, Ravel tried to integrate classical structure and modern harmony techniques in his works, and this song is a typical practice of his idea. There are three movements in the whole piece. The first movement is unfolded in a clear classical sonata form, with smart melody and lively rhythm, and rich changes are hidden in the concise musical language. The second movement is lyrical and quiet, and the delicate harmony weaves a dreamlike artistic conception, showing Ravel’s unique color creation technique; The third movement is full of vitality, and the clever use of rhythm makes the music dynamic and energetic. Sonata not only inherits the rigor of classical music, but also shows Ravel’s bold exploration of new music language. It is a classic in the history of music.

Aqua 水

Reux d’eau M.30 Maurice Ravel 1901

Reux d’eau was created in 1901. At that time, an innovative trend of thought was emerging in the art field in Europe, and impressionist music flourished. Deeply influenced by Debussy, Ravel actively explored the unique musical language in his works, and frolicking in the water was his early representative achievement. The music depicts the form of water with clever notes, and creates vivid scenes such as the murmuring of streams, the rippling of water waves and the splashing of water through rich and changeable harmony, flowing arpeggios and exquisite rhythm. From the light melody like a gurgling stream at the beginning to the surging sound waves at the climax, it shows Ravel’s exquisite control over music color and sound. It is not only a musical sketch of the natural waterscape, but also marks a major breakthrough in Ravel’s impressionist music creation.

Moon 月

Liebestraume S.541 Franz Liszt 1850

Liebestraume was written in 1850, which originated from three piano solos adapted from Liszt’s early songs. It is a lyric masterpiece in the mature stage of his music creation. At that time, romanticism prevailed, emphasizing emotional expression, and Liszt was deeply influenced by it, and integrated his inner longing, longing and fantasy for love into his works. The whole piece takes the beautiful and smooth melody as the core, adopts the variation form and advances layer by layer in the soothing rhythm. The initial melody is like whispering, telling love; With the rich changes of harmony, emotions become more and more intense, such as the surging tide of love, which shows the extreme rendering of emotions by romantic music. It is not only a poem of music, but also a carrier for Liszt to convey deep love and beautiful expectations through music.

Qiutong Lin, was born in Fuzhou, China on September 29th, 1999. Started to learn piano in 2011. Went to Longy School of Music of Bard College in 2018 and study with professor Esther Ning Yau. In order to accumulate piano experience, participated in a series of piano examinations, competitions, master classes and pedagogy conferences. Her teaching philosophy is using the knowledge that her leant and the experience to help student become better musician. With continuous study in Longy School of Music, Qiutong also expanded many new areas such as music theory, piano accompaniment, orchestra conducting, piano pedagogy and film scoring.