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Orchestral Ensemble Works By Jay Zhong |
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Fantasy for Violin, Sheng, and Orchestra |
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Composed in Macomb, Illinois, 2003. Single movement show piece for solo violin and solo sheng, the traditional Chinese organ pipe instrument. This work represents Zhong's memory of a contemporary China where he spent his childhood, with three sections that parallels the three images that the composer remembers China with: the traditional beauty, the rule of Communist regime, and the race toward western modernization. This piece is one of the first of its kind, cleverly explores the possibilities of traditional Chinese music in the context of Western concert music format. Duration is 12 minutes. |
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Gates of Heavenly Rest, a symphonic poem |
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Composed in Columbus, Ohio, 2002. Single movement orchestral show piece in the Romantic traditions of tone poem. Scored for symphonic orchestra with an unique solo part for the popular Chinese instrument Erhu. This is a dark colored work that employs some elements of Chinese ethnic operas. The lonesome solo erhu enjoys some of Zhong's most expressive melodic writings and reveals the inner struggles of a Chinese artist. The title of the piece undoubtably links the music to what known as the "Tiananmen Square", where generations of progressive-thinkers have spilled their blood for the evolution of their motherland. Duration is 11 minutes. |
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String Symphony No.1 |
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Composed in Los Angeles, 2000-2001. Four Movments classical format work. Although written within the frame work of a classical symphony, this work does not follow conventional rules of the sonata-allegro form. Its eccentric first movement is clearly inspired by writings of Bartok, with the same intensity created by the "accumulative form" but also contains a more detached sense of humor. For a certain group of listeners who are familiar with the Chinese "Cultural Revolution" the music speaks its satire clearly.The second movement is a bewitched dance that is technically challenging to the players and sparkling in effect. The following slow movement is songful and heart warming, with audible Chinese sentiments. The Finale is a tour-de-force conclusion to the entire work, lacking in sentimentality it energizes the listener with its strong rhythmic underline that serves as a call for action. |
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Sonata H.143 for String Orchestra |
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Composed in Wooster, Ohio in 1994. This work was inspired by Arthur Honegger's "Sonata for Solo Violin, H.143". Like Stravinsky adopted Pergolesi's manuscripts and created "Puccinela", Zhong has transformed an otherwise forgotten solo violin piece into a spectacular show piece for the string orchestra. To say it is merely an orchestration is both unjust and simplistic, for Zhong's make-over to Honegger's piece involves extensive rewritings in melodic, rhythmic, dynamic, and harmonic details, and as a result it created an all-together different work that is expressive in the most typical of Zhong's stylistic characterization. In four movments, this pieces opens with a homorhythmic theme that recalls not that much of "le Six" but more of Shostakovich; the slow and brief second movement under Zhong's pen has turned laborsome chords into a peaceful and religious chant; the equally concise third movement display a beautiful solo violin with French impressionist accompaniment from the tutti. The abrupt and wicked dance of the Finale is as virtuosic as Honegger's version, but with all the players in the orchestra displaying their formidable arsenals. The work was premiered to great success in 1995 by Ohio Light Opera Orchestra under the supervision of Zhong. Duration is 10 minutes. |
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