Plodding into A Starlit Dream for Harp, Piano, Percussion, Flute, Violin and Cello（2024）

At times, I too have gazed into the vast starry night sky, exploring realms of limitless possibility. Yet, with the passage of time, I wonder—do these moments of wonder fade from memory?
I drew upon my own childhood memories and an ancient Chinese poem to compose this piece, Plodding into A Starlit Dream /《清梦压星河》for harp, piano, percussion, flute, violin, and cello. During my early years, I often traveled to my maternal grandparents' home, nestled deep in the mountains, during summer and winter vacations. To get there, I would take the only country bus available, and after alighting, my grandfather would carry me on his back as we traversed miles along earthy paths. Those treasured nocturnal journeys, immersed in nature’s symphony—chirping insects, nocturnal birdcalls, and the fragrance of the earth under a sky ablaze with countless stars—remain fondly in my heart, forever entwined with the warmth of time spent with my grandparents.
The Yuan Dynasty (1206–1368 AD) poem “Inscribed on Qingcao Lake of Longyang” /《题龙阳县青草湖》by Tang Gong (years unknown) reflects a sentiment of adulthood tinged with childhood innocence and wonder:
The crisp rustle of Westwind,
Sweeps o’er Dongting Lake’s vast expanse,
Layers of white waves, by age, are kissed,
As if in one night’s flight,
Lady Xiang’s dark locks turn white.
“西风吹老洞庭波，一夜湘君白发多”
Inebriated, oblivious to the lake’s mirrored sky,
Gazing upon a realm aglare with starlight,
The little boat, laden with countless dreams of mine,
I know not if it weighs upon the Milky Way’s reflection,
Or if the starlit sky descends into those dreams.
“醉后不知天在水，满船清梦压星河”
(The Chinese title "清梦压星河" consists of the last five characters of the poem.)
Plodding into A Starlit Dream /《清梦压星河》is my heartfelt dedication to my grandfather, Ou Mingda (1938–2018), and to you—the stargazers, whose enduring aspirations and dreams of beauty and betterment transcend the passage of time.