The Year of the Horse was composed in the fall of 2025, commissioned by East Zodiac for the Cerus Quartet. Drawing inspiration from three mythical horses across cultures, this work celebrates the symbolic power and spirit of the horse in honor of the Year of the Horse (2026) in the Eastern Zodiac.

The first movement, Longma (Dragon Horse), a creature with the body of a horse and the head of a dragon, symbolizes vitality and vigor in Chinese mythology. This opening embodies unrestrained power and spirit, propelling the work forward with dazzling energy and unstoppable momentum.

The second movement, Pegasus, depicts the white, winged horse of Greek mythology — perhaps the most well-known mythical horse. Dedicated to the Cerus Quartet, whose name also draws from Greek myth, this movement seeks a floating, ethereal quality that reflects Pegasus’s divine grace and freedom.

The last movement, Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse from Norse mythology, is capable of traversing all nine realms of the cosmos. As Odin’s steed that has ridden through countless battles, it stands as a symbol of strength and transcendence, bringing the work to a powerful close.

(Wenbin Lyu, October 11, 2025)

April xx 2025 (premiere); Ann Arbor, MI; Cerus Quartet