Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang, the concerto orchestra and guzheng (Chinese zither) which I composed with Victor Cheng, is now on Spotify! You can stream all three movements as well as several guzheng solo pieces interpreted by virtuoso Su Chang. Check it out!
This week’s music is another excerpt from my guzheng concerto, Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang. This passage, from the second movement, is the musical equivalent of a nostalgic flashback to happier times. The darker turn at the end presages moodier material ahead.
Want to hear more of the sound of this unique Chinese instrument? Stream the concerto via Apple Music or Spotify.
This week’s music is a third excerpt from my guzheng concerto, Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang. This is a playful duet between guzheng soloist and piccolo. (It’s meant to evoke the imagery of two children playing.) The climactic build at the end presages the beginning of the finale.
The concerto has been performed by the San Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the China National Orchestra, as well as regional orchestras in the US, Canada, and China. You can find it online from all major music vendors and streaming services.
This week’s music is a second excerpt from the guzheng concerto I composed with Victor Cheng, Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang. In contrast to the triumphant character of last week’s excerpt, this passage is more introspective and poignant.
In writing this I was particularly interested in the similarities and contrast between the guzheng and orchestral harp. You can hear the harp playing accompaniment on the left stereo side of the recording.
The full album is available for streaming or purchase at Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and the other usual suspects.
With a new orchestral concert project coming soon (stay tuned for details!), I thought I’d share some excerpts from my earlier guzheng concerto, Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang.
For the uninitiated, a concerto is a piece that alternates focus between the orchestra and a soloist, who is usually positioned at stage front. The soloist is often an instrument like a violin or piano, but in the case of Identity it’s a guzheng – a Chinese folk instrument that sounds a little bit like a cross between a guitar and a harp.
In this excerpt from the third movement, guzheng virtuoso Su Chang enters a little past the one minute mark. If you’d like to hear the full piece, our album (recorded at Warner Brothers) is available via Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and the other usual suspects.
