檀梳曉寒 · Dawn Chill by the Sandalwood Comb

A dizi-led 古風 love-and-separation song set in a cold room before dawn. A sandalwood comb, left in its box with one strand still caught in the teeth, holds the memory of the absent beloved while frost-light gathers at the curtain.

Lead instrument: dizi, supported by sparse guqin, light pipa, and low xiao.

曉帳凝寒色 檀梳臥匣塵 一縷猶纏齒 不見綰髮人

昨宵風過竹 孤燈照素茵 妝臺留半影 簾隙入微晨

檀梳兮檀梳 為我記芳辰 君行山水外 霜白舊羅裙

砌下寒聲起 簪花久不新 欲理青絲結 指冷怯餘芬

檀梳兮檀梳 莫落遠行塵 他年歸馬晚 還與畫眉人

紙窗天欲白 笛氣到孤衾 不是相思苦 寒從舊齒深

檀梳兮檀梳 留香待故人 一朝春水滿 並坐理烏雲

匣底微霜盡 風定小樓曛 檀痕猶未歇 低唱到黃昏