Seasons of Uncertainty (2024)

Composed and orchestrated by Tze Toh
performed by Wu Bingling (violin), Lazar T. Sebastine (Carnatic violin), Teo Boon Chye (tenor sax), Tze Toh (piano)
Recording / Mixing Jeff Wong, Tze Toh
Project Management Stephanie Ong
Drawing inspiration in part from Hache Costa’s adaptation of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”, this piece takes various motifs from Vivaldi’s original “The Four Seasons” and reimagines them in a 4 part work, using each of the four seasons to depict the state of the world, with Winter expressing the ongoing crisis with a climate that’s spiralling out of control, Autumn, an uncertain future, Summer, a coming together of people of the world to take action to make a positive change and finally Spring, hope. The seasons here are in reverse, symbolising the hope that humanity can somehow undo the damage done to the environment, and bring about a rebirth, a new Spring for our beloved planet.
Arranged in unique contemporary Asian fusion sound, the piece combines Carnatic (South Indian) violin and jazz saxophone improvisations with reharmonizations and reimagining of Vivaldi’s themes, while drawing from the original The Four Seasons’ baroque roots.
Combining the harmonies and layers of European classical music with ragas such as Vakulabharanam (expressing destruction) and using various timbres of the violin, saxophone and piano, the piece moves from dissonant textures, to floating melodies and intertwined soulful solos to tell a compelling story of the uncertain world we live in - a result of the near climate-collapse, albeit one full of hope if we take action to change the course of humanity sooner than later.
Featuring Singapore’s innovative contemporary music group TO ensemble’s soloists, Wu Bingling (violin), Teo Boon Chye (sax), Lazar T. Sebastine (Carnatic violin) and Tze Toh (piano).

[@zdl1965]

A wonderful reimagination of Vivaldi through Asian lenses!

[@ComposerTzeToh]

Thank you!