Sonata No. 1 in b-minor, “Cave of Golden Flowers” (2018) 

Piano Sonata No. 1 in B-flat Minor (“The Cave of Yellow Flowers”) was inspired by a story in Truyền Kỳ Mạn Lục [Collection of Strange Tales], a Vietnamese literature work composed by Nguyễn Dữ in the sixteenth century. The story is about Từ Thức, a young mandarin who resigned from the court to seek a Fairy Land. Amidst the beautiful clouds, peaceful rivers, and high mountains full of gemstones, he found a beautiful fairy and married her in the Cave of Yellow Flowers. After a few days, struck by homesickness, Từ Thức decided to visit his home even though his fairy wife vividly persuaded him not to. Still, he came back to where he was born only to realize that no one in the village recognized him. Hundreds of years have passed since the day he left. Learning the truth, Từ Thức wanted to go back with his wife, but he never found the Fairy Land again.

I was awed that the story possibly reflects the ancient knowledge of parallel worlds, which remains one of the most mysterious topics of modern quantum physics. If it is not the case, this story still touches many hearts by questioning what really matters in our life. In the time of Từ Thức, a position in the court was highly desirable, but he left it to find a fairy dream. But an ephemeral moment of happiness could cost a long time in the “real” world, and it may never come back. So, which world is worth living for?

While this piano sonata shows a significant influence of European classical music in my music education, I put into the music all passion this love story gave me. The first and third movements, respectively Allegro and Fuocoso, represent a passionate yearning for love and a determination to realize the wildest dream. The second movement, Adagio, is an intimate but ardent conversation of two lovers, in which the fairy is trying to persuade her husband to stay while his heart is torn by the love for his wife and for his old village.

Allegro: 6 minutes

Adagio: 4 minutes

Fuoco: 5 minutes