Born: April 4, 1953, Guangzhou, China
Education: BA, MA - Beijing Central Conservatory,
DMA - Columbia University
Most Recent Wind Band Work: Suite from China West
Recent Recordings: Suite from China West
Website: www.presser.com/Composers/info.cfm
Recipient of the prestigious Charles Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2001-04), Chen Yi* has served as the Lorena Searcey Cravens/Millsap/Missouri Distinguished Professor in Music Composition at the Conservatory of the University of Missouri-Kansas City since 1998.
Born April 4, 1953, in Guangzhou, China, into a family of doctors with a strong interest in classical music, Chen Yi started studying violin and piano at age three with Zheng Rihua and Li Suxin, and music theory with Zheng Zhong. Dr. Chen has received music degrees from the Beijing Central Conservatory (BA and MA) and Columbia University in the City of New York (DMA).
Chen Yi is in high demand as a lecturer at composition workshops and at concerts of her music throughout the world. She was appointed by the China Ministry of Education to the prestigious three-year Changjiang Scholar Visiting Professorship at the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music in 2006, and presently serves on the boards, advisory councils or juries of Meet The Composer, Chamber Music America, the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University, the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, American Composers Orchestra, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the International Alliance of Women in Music, as well as numerous other music organizations.
* CHEN is her family name, Yi is her personal name. CHEN Yi can be referred to as Dr. Chen, Ms. Chen, or Chen Yi.
Featured Pieces in Wind Band Select Series
Wind
Concert Band
115-40208F - Score - $55.00
115-40208M - Set of Parts - $55.00
Dur.: 11' Score PDF
Recording - Coming soon
A prolific composer who blends Chinese and Western traditions, Dr. Chen Yi gives us Wind for the Wind Band Select series. This work uses the Western sound of a wind ensemble to depict the Eastern feeling of the winds, or feng, in two movements: “Introduction” and “Rondo.” For advanced players.
Dragon Rhyme
Symphonic Band
115-40206F - Score - $60.00
115-40206M - Set of Parts - $85.00
Dur.: 13' Score PDF
Recording - Coming soon
From the composer: “Dragon Rhyme for symphonic band is in two movements: “I. Mysteriously-Harmoniously,” and “II. Energetically.” The first movement is lyrical, and the second powerful. Featuring the basic intervals found in Beijing Opera music, the thematic material in both movements is matched, and used economically for development throughout the work. The instrumental texture is rich in colors, from transparent and delicate to angular and strong. Taking the image of the dragon, which is auspicious, fresh, and vivid, the music is layered and multidimensional. It symbolizes Eastern culture. When it meets the world, it becomes a part of the global family.”
Commissioned by the Metropolitan Wind Symphony (Lawrence Isaacson, Music Director) in 2005, the Suite from China West for Wind Ensemble is written in four movements, and was premiered on May 18, 2008, conducted by Lewis J. Buckley at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA. The authentic folk music from China West has amazed and inspired the composer to write this piece, which has folk music elements drawn from the folk songs Gadameilin and Pastoral of the Meng People; Ashima of the Yi People; Du Mu and Amaliehuo of the Zang People, and Dou Duo and the Lusheng ensemble music of the Miao People.
Note from the composer regarding 4th movement:
The "small bell" sound in the recording of Suite From China West is not accurate. It should be the "finger bell" (Chinese: small pengling - click here to see a photo), which is a pair of small bells used in temple, with a high sound, but not loud. They hit each other and sound with rings. If people couldn't find it, they could use another triangle instead.
