Two Centuries on Keys

On the afternoon of March 28, 2026, the 130th Art Salon of Shanghai Star River Bilingual School, a piano recital entitled "Two Centuries on Keys," graced the stage. This salon was directed by Ms. Mandy Xu and performed by 12th-grade student Dai Yingying (Yolanda). From Baroque to Romanticism, classic masterpieces spanning two musical centuries intertwined on the black and white keys to create a dialogue across time and space.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude in C Major, BWV846

This piece is the opening work of the entire collection, with flowing arpeggios creating a solemn and peaceful atmosphere.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude in C minor, BWV847

This piece is dramatic and passionate, very different from the first prelude, with rapid rhythm and rugged toccata-style passages creating an urgent atmosphere.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude in C-sharp major, BWV848

This prelude overflows with brightness and vitality, described as "bathing in summer sunlight," full of carefree joy.

Frédéric Chopin: Prelude in A minor, Op.28 No.2

The entire piece maintains suppressed tension throughout its slow rhythm. Heavy dotted rhythms in the left hand repeat like funeral steps, while fragmented chromatic melodies in the right hand express the composer's anguish.

Frédéric Chopin: Prelude in G major, Op.28 No.3

This piece is light and lively, very different from the last one. Fast left-hand notes run like a heartbeat, while bright right-hand melodies sparkle like sunlight on water.

Frédéric Chopin: Prelude in B minor, Op.28 No.6

Often called the sister to the "Raindrop" Prelude, this piece permeates sorrow. A mournful melody in the low notes is accompanied by persistent repeated tones in the high notes, like raindrops or silent tears.

Two Centuries on Keys

Frédéric Chopin: Étude in E Major, Op.10 No.3 "Tristesse"

This etude is not about technique. It has one of the most beautiful melodies Chopin ever wrote. It expresses the composer's deep attachment to his native Poland and the pain of separation.

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 "Pathétique" - 3rd Movement

This is a masterpiece of Beethoven's early piano sonatas, showcasing an indomitable struggle and tenacious vitality in its rapid rhythm.

Frédéric Chopin: Andante spianato et Grande polonaise brillante in E-flat Major, Op.22

The work opens with a tranquil and elegant melody that flows smoothly and gracefully, showcasing a rare serenity and composure in Chopin's compositions.

Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op.9 No.2

This is Chopin's most famous Nocturne. The melody sings like a voice in the night, full of decoration but natural. The left hand stays calm and steady while the right hand moves freely—sometimes soft, sometimes excited—ending in a mix of sweetness and sadness.

Frédéric Chopin: Étude in C minor, Op.10 No.12 "Revolutionary"

This is a breathtaking etude. The left hand unleashes an unstoppable torrent of arpeggios like a volcanic eruption, while the right hand plays a stirring and resolute horn-like theme, expressing an indomitable fighting spirit and a cry for freedom.

               

    Two Centuries  on Key

On this March 28th, Yolanda marked her eighteenth birthday with a solo concert — a dream finally realized after years of dedication. From Baroque to Romanticism, from Bach to Chopin, the program traced two centuries of piano literature across the keyboard. We wish her continued growth and many more performances to come.