Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Amazing Orchestral Music by Qigang Chen..., 24 Feb 2003
By A Customer
Truly Amazing Pieces of Music. Totally agreed with what the other reviewers have said, this CD demonstrates the best of all (living or dead) Chinese composers.I first encountered Qigang Chen's music when his "Wu Xing (The Five Elements)" was shortlisted by the Masterprize competition in 2000. It is a brilliant piece of music, but for me, it is the other two pieces that represent the best of Chen. "Iris unveiled" combines 3 female voices (one of which being a Beijing Opera singer), 3 traditional Chinese instruments with a grand orchestra. Although it includes 9 sections, the music pretty much flows seamlessly from one to another. "Reflection of a vanished time" for cello and orchestra is my favourite work on this CD. It is a coherent piece of music that lasts for about 25 minutes. When the ancient Chinese tune that the piece quotes throughout finally appears in its entirety (plus added western harmonization of course), one could not but be amazed how beautiful music (or even, the world) could be! Not to mention the superb playing from Yo-Yo Ma - can't imagine any other cellist could have done a better job than he has! Although there are many Chinese composers out there, Chen's way of combining music elements of the West and the East is undoubtedly unique. Unlike some (especially later) works of composers such as Tan Dun or Zhou Long, his use of Chinese traditional instruments never sounds out of place - they genuinely fuse into the musical structure of each piece nicely. His orchestration is superb, very delicate, with a particularly strong taste of French music (shadows of Debussy and Messiaen definitely come through). Highly Recommended!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoy and remember, 30 Jan 2003
Qigang Chen is an important Chinese composer on international music stage in our time. As French master Messiaen's last student, Mr. Chen not only carried forward those special music languages in Messiaen's music, but also mixed them together with traditional Chinese folk music, which finally bring us the romance of French music that full of national consciousness of eastern feelings.
This album contains three of Mr. Chen's recent works; all of them are for orchestra. The first piece, Iris unveiled, is an orchestral suite for voices, traditional Chinese instruments and grand orchestra. The suite is divided into nine pieces; each piece has its own title which is all for describing various moods of women. Mr. Chen uses his unique combination of Eastern and Western instruments to create many wonderful moments happened on women, and the music leads us to the dream-like level that we change our moods when the music changing its characters.
The second piece, Reflection of a vanished time, is commissioned for cellist Yo-Yo Ma. This piece uses an ancient Chinese motive to develop a long and gorgeous concerto. The theme is simple and short, the pentatonic tune always changes the colors of harmony. There are some difficult sections in cello part, Yo-Yo Ma plays perfectly without any flaw through his superior technique. And those slow sections are extremely beautiful, not only the music itself, but also the expression of emotion.
The last piece, Wu Xing, is a suite for orchestra. The piece is written about five elements, water, wood, fire, earth and metal. The music is kind of description in consciousness, in other word, they are inner feelings about those outer-world-thing. Personally, I think there are some places in this work which constructed with very charming orchestration.
If you like French music and you are also seeking new music, this is fantastic one! You'll be totally attracted by the combination of French Music and Chinese music, which Mr. Chen did beautifully and perfectly.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Combination, 12 Feb 2003
By A Customer
Qigang Chen is a poetic composer. The ways he combines Chinese elements into West orchestral works are purely genius!
His suite, "Wu XingĦħ (The Five Elements) won a top 2001 Masterprize finalist award,luckyly,I'd been to the live concert in London.
Chen's vitalistic musical interpretation of this simple premise brings to it a depth hitherto unexpressed. His composition is a musical lyric poem that reflects the dynamic between each of the five elements in sequence.
The cello concerto "Reflet dĦŻun temps disparu " (Reflection of a vanished time) is a work expressing personal nostalgia. On discovering the subtlety of a poem, I am moved to tears. I believe anyone who listen to "Reflet dĦŻun temps disparu " would be similarly affected.
"Iris devoilee" (Iris unveiled) is, as the name suggests, about his female world. It is a suite for a large symphony orchestra, three women voices, and three Chinese traditional instruments. The piece is striking for its combination of Western and Eastern styles. His music praises feminine purity and beauty, and agonizes over its fragility. He thus portrays women and the full scope of their emotions, vulnerability, and temperament. On aurally meeting the nine faces of woman, listeners of both gender empathize, to the extent that women see aspects of themselves in the music. Qigang Chen 's lyrics are in traditional Chinese dramatic style, sung in cadences and modulations that are uplifting and evocative. Those listening to this music who are unversed in the Chinese culture and language nonetheless appreciate Oriental women in all their charm and vital sensuality. At the work's climax, all aspects of woman converge into one musical life stream. Countless styles of music express the joys and woes of love, and Qigang Chen 's work is all the more of an achievement for its proof that something new can emerge from an eternal theme.
Perhaps because I have listened this CD so many times, this music lingers in my mind. It seems Wherever I go ,it is always with me.
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