Program Notes:

Nanjing, my hometown, holds a profound historical and cultural significance. Its name, literally translated as "Southern Capital," reflects its pivotal role in Chinese history, having served as the capital of China six dynasties over the course of thousands of years. Today, Nanjing is a vibrant, dynamic, and sometimes chaotic city that stands as a witness to the nation's many triumphs and challenges.

This composition, dedicated to my beloved home city, unfolds across three movements, each capturing a distinct facet of Nanjing’s essence.

The opening movement is brief and fanfare-like, encapsulating the concept of unity and centralization. Throughout its history as the capital, Nanjing has seen the rise and fall of various imperial dynasties, each leaving its mark on the city. The music mirrors this heritage through rich heterophony and triumphant characteristics. As the movement builds to a climactic peak, it abruptly transitions into the contrasting second movement.

The second movement is inspired by a dish integral to Nanjing’s culinary heritage, the renowned "salt-water duck." This delicacy, with a history spanning over a thousand years, is celebrated for its simple yet sophisticated preparation, which enhances the natural flavor of the duck with salt and a medley of complementary Chinese spices. The meticulous process of marinating, boiling, drying, and re-boiling reflects the dish's enduring legacy across generations and dynasties. Musically, this movement conveys a sense of harmonic stasis, focusing on subtle timbral transformations within a limited harmonic palette. This approach parallels the gradual infusion of salty flavors during the duck’s preparation while symbolizing the slow, deliberate changes in Nanjing’s historical narrative. The salt-water duck becomes a metaphorical thread, binding the ancient and modern aspects of the city together.

The third movement captures the vibrant energy of modern Nanjing. Known for its distinctive dialect, which often sounds like animated arguments, the city’s character is reflected in the music through abrupt textural shifts, complex rhythmic interplay, and dramatic timbral contrasts. This movement also evokes the daily hustle and bustle of Nanjing, its congested traffic, lively conversations, and occasional disputes, all hallmarks of a thriving metropolis. Unlike the first movement's sense of unity, this finale celebrates the city’s polyphony and layered complexity, emphasizing the chaos that gives Nanjing its unique vitality and cultural richness. Through this movement, I aim to honor the transformation of Nanjing from a symbol of Simperial unity to a vibrant, modern city, a shift that underscores the importance of embracing its dynamic present.

This piece pays homage to my father Xin Cui who is my first composition teacher, and to Carl Vine, my dearest mentor from Australia.