Turbulent Mind is a two-movement suite for mixed sextet, with each movement ranging about two minutes in length. I began writing this piece during the most threatening time of COVID-19 in 2020, shortly after moving from Boston to Cincinnati. However, the monotonous lockdown lifestyle under the pandemic could not stifle my spiritual world. That's why I decided to write this piece, using music to express my turbulent mind.

The first movement, The Cardinal Ascending, is inspired by a beautiful cardinal I saw during the quarantine. I applied different timbres and extended techniques to the instruments to imitate the bird's sounds. The second movement, Turbulent Mind, is a fast-paced scherzo that directly expresses my anxiety, boredom, and loneliness during the lockdown.

After finishing the piece, I used some of the materials to compose my first piano concerto, also titled Turbulent Mind.

(Wenbin Lyu, October 23, 2021)

March 31, 2023; Midwest Graduate Music Consortium; University of Chicago; Chicago, IL; UChicago New Music Ensemble

November 4, 2022; SCI Region II Conference; Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY; Society for New Music

March 26, 2022; TUTTI Festival; Denison University; Granville, OH; Fifth House Ensemble

December 19, 2021; International Composition Institute of Thailand; Bangkok Art and Culture Centre; Bangkok, Thailand; Tacet(i) & Piyawat Louilarpprasert, conductor

August 11, 2021 (premiere); Tanglewood Music Festival; Linde Center; Lenox, MA