Winter Sketches for String Quartet (15’) 2008
Received the 2008 Kuttner Quartet Composition Competition Award and premiered by the quartet

I. ...snow...falling...blurred...                                                (entire movement)
II. Dark White                                                                      (entire movement)
III. Resounding Prayer in Empty Heart                               (entire movement)
IV. Childhood Mosaic                                                          (entire movement)

<Program Note>

In 2005, I moved from a warm place to a cold, and winter became the very crucial season that

affected my emotion and music. I drew four different sketches about winter in this piece.

I. …snow…falling…blurred…

In the first movement, I tried to express two things: a person watching snowing through his

window and his wondering mind. Probably many people will enjoy watching snow falling and

the world becoming white. At the same time, their hearts are filled with wandering thoughts:

memories in childhood, loneliness in last winter, first kiss on the snow, and even higher

utility fee in winter, etc. The falling snow blurs not only sights, but also minds…

II. Dark White

In winter, I wonder how there could be brutal, harsh and agitated images, looking at the “white world”

covered by snow. It seems so peaceful, but there are so many cruel things underneath. People still die

because of the coldness. Look at the dark colors through the “transparent” white.

III. Resounding Prayer in Empty Heart

Third movement is a religious movement. In winter, even though most people do not worry

about death caused by coldness in winter, many people are still threatened by the weather. In

their hopeless hearts, yearning prayers will not stop reverberating…

IV. Childhood Mosaic

For the fourth movement, I previously planned to compose a carol or to quote a famous carol

melody, but I wanted to keep this entire piece not too unveiled. Instead of using any famous

or traditional carol tune, I put various images related to childhood on the music like mosaic:

snow fights and sleighs on the snow, dances in a warm house, excitement about Christmas

gifts and a new year.

         Dec, 2008

E.B.

Non-printable Score