Song of Spring

About the Book

This original piece describes the spring season’s delightful awakening with pastel flowers and their accompanying aromas as well as their effects on people. The melody, played on the violin, was inspired by Fong Fong’s visit to Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. The first four measures of introduction set a happy mood. They are followed by the exposition section, which has an expressive melodically flowing Theme A in 3/4 time. Theme B is a lively moving dance in 4/4 time. The second half of Theme B features contrapuntal inversions and inverted melodies, simulating gentle cascades of water and a colorful modulation leading to the development section. The recapitulation section incorporates Themes A and B. The introductory melody is easily recognizable at the end of this sonata. —Elaine Lambert

About the Author

Fong Fong was born in 1958 to a famous musical family in Beijing, China. At age four, he began piano studies. He later studied violin with violinist Zhonghua Sheng and Prof. Peiwen Yuan. Chamber music followed with Prof. Zhinuo Ding at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. There he received his BA degree. In 1984 he was granted a full scholarship to study under the guidance of world-renowned violinist and conductor Prof. Rudolf Baumgartner as well as with Prof. Gunnars Larsens at the Lucerne Conservatorium in Switzerland, where he received his well-deserved Concert Diploma. In 1985 his violin playing impressed Maestro Yehudi Menuhin in Gstaad, Switzerland. Fong Fong has been performing solo, chamber, and orchestral music as well as teaching in the New York metropolitan area. In 1986, Fong Fong began writing music. His teachers have been Prof. Robert Gazizov, Prof. Xiang Jin, Prof. Paul Capoto, and Mr. William Eckfeld. The audiences enjoy his neoromantic style of music, which has been premiered by the Antara Ensemble, the Northern Westchester Symphony Orchestra, and the Manhattan Symphonie.