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Wen Ziyang: Timeless Four Seasons
Violin Concerto for the Chinese Lunar Calendar
commissioned by Major Music to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Lv Siqing led the Major New Strings
Shanghai Oriental Art Center
April 3, 2025

From the composer
Throughout history, many great composers have created works under the title “The Four Seasons”, and this has, over time, become a distinctive "compositional form."
Commissioned by Major Music in 2024 and dedicated to renowned violinist Lü Siqing, China's Four Seasons offers an innovative interpretation through the lens of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. The work comprises twelve movements, each inspired by the poetic names for the twelve months in ancient Chinese culture—presenting a distinctly Chinese perspective on the seasonal cycle. These movements weave together scholarly aesthetics from classical poetry, regional folk traditions across China, and the composer's personal reflections.
Initially, I wrote extensive program notes for this work, but ultimately chose to retain only this essential statement:
In the end, I resolved to compose my own seasons—to capture the people, stories, and emotions within each season. For everyone has their own four seasons to cherish.

Spring

First Movement: Early Spring.Spring awakens, and all creation gleams (Lunar January)
The first movement begins in a cold atmosphere, where D minor envelops the music in a frosty aura, yet beneath this chill pulses a vibrant surge of life. From the early spring's lingering frost to the eventual thaw of ice and snow, this serves as the overture to spring—Spring awakens, and all creation gleams. The movement evokes an older, classical style, intentionally crafted as an “homage” to Antonio Vivaldi. The sudden appearance of the D major pentatonic scale at the conclusion heralds the opening of The Four Seasons of China, drawing us into the distinct musical landscape of the work.

Second Movement: Mid Spring. Willows sway, drunken in the haze of spring. (Lunar February)
The second movement conjures a serene spring landscape, where the grass flourishes, warblers flutter in the air, and willows delicately sway along the embankment, painting a picture of tranquility. The tender melodies and rich harmonic colors form the heart of this movement, evoking the gentle caress of a spring breeze that stirs deep reflections and reverie.

Third Movement: late spring. Countless blossoms vie in vernal splendor.(Lunar March)
Countless blossoms vie in vernal splendor.The third movement is a lively Allegro, full of technical brilliance, capturing the joyous panorama of a spring day in full bloom. This exuberant movement paints a picture of spring’s splendor, where the earth bursts into vibrant hues—how can one not be swept up in the delight of such a moment of "beautiful spring"?

Summer

First Movement: Early summer. The Summer of Shicha lake (Lunar April)
The first movement of summer is a nostalgic reflection on life in Beijing, set during Huaixu, the poetic term for early summer. A boat drifts across the tranquil waters of Shichahai, carrying with it the languid ease of the season. The piece opens with percussive sounds reminiscent of the ceremonial drumbeats of the honor guards at Tiananmen, soon giving way to a leisurely melody inspired by the rhythmic cadences of Jingyun Dagu (Beijing narrative drum song). As the movement draws to a close, a sudden entrance of a Peking opera motif in measure 99 evokes the image of an amateur performer singing in a park—every note steeped in the unmistakable essence of old Beijing.

Second Movement: Mid summer. Pastoral of a Summer Night (Lunar May)
No one forgets a summer night on the grasslands—the gentle breeze, the starry sky, and the fresh scent of grass in the air. This pastoral-inspired movement captures that essence. As the summer night deepens, the herdsman’s melody lingers in the stillness like a distant echo, blending nature’s tranquility with musical poetry.
Third Movement: Late summer.Great Heat: the zenith of summer(Lunar June)
Great heat, the searing summer, anxiety, and discomfort. It’s hot! Hot! Hot! Some textures in the piece come from Vivaldi, offering an intriguing contrast between ancient and modern styles.

Autumn

First Movement: Early autumn. The Autumn Waltz (Lunar July)
Second Movement: Mid autumn. The Song of the Harvest (Lunar August)
Third Movement: Late autumn. lament (Lunar September)

Winter
First Movement: Early winter. Night of Frost and Stillness(Lunar October)
4min 36s, Lento
Second Movement: Mid winter.Solitary Cadenza (Lunar November)
The violin cadenza emerges like a lone traveler trudging through winter's desolate expanse—a musical embodiment of the ancient verse:
'Frozen peaks: no wing dares cross;
Snow-choked paths: no footprint lasts.'
Third Movement: Late winter. The Joy of the New Year (Lunar December)