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Chamber Ensemble Works By Jay Zhong |
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Elegy for Iris Chang, for Violin and Piano |
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Sonata for Two Violins |
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Composed for violin and piano in 2005. This piece was inspired by the life and work of the noted historic journalist Iris Chang. It is a homage to her contribution to modern Chinese history, her courage to stand against oppression, and her tragic untimely death. It is a single movement piece. Duration is appr. 11 minutes. |
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Composed in Columbus, Ohio, 2002. This piece opens with clashing chords that parady the works of Berio. The rest of the first movement evolves into melodic interludes and brief dances.The hunting chords of the beginning return in whispering tone, but remain the same intensity and horror. The first movement results in a form Zhong calls "absolute symmetrical"---like a word that reads both ways (e.g. Mom). The second movement was inspried by Zhong's adopted cat. The music mimics its calling in the mid section of the movement, with plenty of adoration and grace. The last movement is a technical display for both players with much malice, resemble the character of a mindless and facist bully. Its mid-section employs a stereo-typical Chinese dance that bluntly displays the bully's unsophisticated and laughable images. |
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String Trio No. 1 |
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Scored for Violin, Viola, and Cello. Composed in Macomb, Illinois, 2003. This work follows the Baroque-Classical format of chamber music writing. The first movment is a strict Prelude & Fugue, displayed in Zhong's own colors; the second movement is an minuetto-trio aria with Chinese-influenced harmonies and melodies; the last movement is written in the technique of "note-carving", with "B (b-flat), A, C, H (b-nature)" as the foundation pitches of the motif. While paying homage to his hero, J.S. Bach, Zhong has not forgotten to insert his personal stamp into the work, shown by plenty of his typical wit. In his own words, Zhong added :"I figured that the otherwise serious old master could use a smile on his face." |
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String Quartet in C |
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Sonata for Violin and Cello Solo |
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Composed in 2000. This is one of the most daring works of Jay Zhong, with a hunting shadow of his own heritage over the entire work. The first movement is morunful and full of engergy, with traditional Chinese musical style penetrating the familiar framework of Western music. The second movement is a lighter dance of pizzacatos that brings youthful sentiments and romance. The slower third movement reveals emotional depair mixed with violence created by the intruding clashes of tone-clusters. The final movement is a decisive prepetual motion that wraps around an outcrying cadenza in the middle. The movement ends in a possitive display of strenghth after a glorious C major chorale. Duration is 20 minutes. |
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Composed in New York, 1995. This work is one of Zhong's most popular numbers, and has been repeatly heard within the United States.The first movement starts with intense drama in the melodic lines from both players and then evolves into a skillful Fugetta. The dreary melody returns with unanswered questions and a sense of dissatisfection. The second movement is a flirtation between two lovers in the steps of a Polka, with plenty of sweetness and innocence. The last movement has two sections. The first section is a slower and angrish prelude that states more suffering than solvation. Abandoned by Grace, the second section spins into a bizaard Chinese dance that grows into an anarchy. Duration is 10 minutes. |
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