BS: Program notes for world premiere

Subject: RE: BS: Program notes for world premiere
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Dec 05 - 02:52 PM

It must be a beautiful concerto judging by your program notes. Thanks for sharing. I know what it's like to write those up. My brother and I collaborated on his for various concerts of his classical works.

Where is the premiere? Will there be a CD?

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Program notes for world premiere
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Dec 05 - 01:25 PM

They are kind of the Jews of China, in that they are the wandering tribe that settles in along their migration. They are about 7% of the Chinese population.

Subject: RE: BS: Program notes for world premiere
From: open mike
Date: 10 Dec 05 - 01:23 PM

who are/were the hakka people?
isn't there a group called that?
or maybe happa that plays hawaiian
music? maybe with Irish mixed in?

Subject: BS: Program notes for world premiere
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Dec 05 - 01:12 PM

Program notes.

When I was asked by Chien-Tai Chen to write the American program notes for his major work Hakka ; Violin Concerto " Wanderer" I was surprised and honored. Having played cello in undergraduate school many years ago my expression has since turned to poetry and the visual arts.

With my eyes closed I listened to the computerized version of the Violin Concerto Hakka. I envisioned an ancient journey that began in the mountains and grew in scope and intensity, propelling the Hakka people into the future. My eyes were opened as I heard the musical depiction of the Hakka people shaking the dust from their souls as they traveled from marginal areas to great heights and new horizons. Bending like bamboo throughout the ages, the strength of Hakka tradition has sustained a worldwide migration with a hard-working peaceful discipline. There is a simple story here with a deep philosophy.

The first movement   'The Big Move' portrays one thousand years of the early migration. Ancient Chinese percussion is heard in the finger bells, harp and gong as chanting of the winds and brass morphs into Chinese folk song set against an enormous landscape. There are many crossroads of hardships and celebrations that the Hakka caravans traverse. Near the end of the first movement, one can hear a bridge of harmony between traditional Chinese instruments and today's sounds.
Chein-Tai Chen has incorporated ancient and traditional songs of very specific regions--including the district of South Taiwan, Kaoshuin, the MeiNond area, and Mount Jian. Also heard are the old mountain songs based on Song Kou of the Guang Dong and Mei Chen province. The solo violin chants Song Kou in the form of a question/answer style.

The second movement 'New Move' has three distinct sections: (1) Solemnly, which begins with traditional melody with reverence to one's ancestors and swells to the second section, (2) Cheerfully, which swirls with a carefree and unique joyous if not frenzied counterpoint. (3) The final section of this movement is titled Thankfully. I heard the violin truly take off here amidst the pulse of rich thick yet peaceful harmonies.

The glorious 3rd movement is Perpetual Motion. Look for a complex and slow gong sequence from Zen tempo, as well as Cantonese Chao-show music that is written with eighteen beats per measure. The steady increase in tempo is as relentless as the growing dynamics of Ravel's Bolero. The tempo eventually becomes unbound and transforms to one beat per measure. The violin solo enters into a random exploration and unites with modern percussion in a brand-new "Symphony Fantastique" fashion. Instead of striking the strings with the wood of the bow in a traditional collegno manner, chopsticks are used to bounce across all the strings. The finale simply made me smile and reminded me to always look on the bright side of life. I now feel that I too share the Hakka journey.


By Don Hakman
Rockville MD
USA

Hakka migration picture may be downloaded from


http://www.angelfire.com/md2/customviolins/earthseeded.jpg


C.T. Please check if the Chinese names are spelled correctly.
Thanks Don Hakman
        




-----Original Message-----
From: Chien-Tai Chen [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 11:40 AM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: CT's English bio for ESO

hi Dear Don

can you help