Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Chinese OrchestraRealAudio demo
World Premiere: February 7, 2007. Taipei Chinese Orchestra conducted by Kuo Keng-wei, Saxophone: Yen Ching-hsien
Commissioned by the Musix Company Limited, this work was originally written for alto saxophone and symphonic band and completed in December 2005, Taipei. Written in one-movement-form, this concerto is one of Chung's most impressive works, opening in parlando-rubato saxophone cadenza and orchestra members' rhythmic shouting based on renowned Yellow River Boatman's Song The Winding Yellow River through an expressive Liaoning Province folksong Moon in Midnight . Many extended techniques such as multiphonics, flutter-tonguing, tongue-slap, bisbigliando, and altissimo are used extensively in the last section to build the concerto to a climactic ending. Commissioned by saxophonist Yen Ching-hsien, the composer in January 2007 transcribed this concerto for Chinese orchestra.
The Super Dimension City WallsRealAudio demo
World Premiere: June 11, 2004. Taipei Chinese Orchestra conducted by Chen Chung-sen
Commissioned for the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the founding of Taipei City. Taipei City Wall was built from January 1882 to November 1884 in Qing Dynasty reigned by Guangxu emperor. There are five gates in the city wall, which is also different from other walls that have four or eight gates. The gates were designed as closed blockhouses so that they could defend cannons. This piece is written for tuned bronze-bell set and Chinese orchestra. There are five bronze-bell solo passages in the piece symbolizing the five gates of the city wall and 120 fundamental notes are struck throughout the piece on the large bells in the lower layer. This piece was completed in May 2004 and first performed by the Taipei Chinese Orchestra conducted by Chen Chung-shen. The bronze-bell set used in this concert is a replica of the set unearthed from the fifth century B.C. tomb of Marquis Zeng Yi in Hubei Province in 1978. The original set weighs 2,500 kilogram and consists of 65 pieces - the biggest bell is 152cm high and 204kg and the smallest 20cm long and 3kg. They are suspended on three ordered fames and divided into eight groups. Each bell can produce two different tones when struck at the center and the outer edge.
Traces du ventTo play its RealAudio demo, click the right button
World Premiere: November 8, 2002. The National Experimental Chinese Orchestra conducted by Qu chunquan
Commissioned by the NCO for the French tour in 2002, “Traces du vent” was completed in the summer of 2002 in Taipei. This piece is written for a small Chinese chamber ensemble consisting of wind instruments: Di, Sheng, Guan; plucked string instruments: Liuqin, Yangqin, Pipa, Guozheng, Sanxian; bowed string instruments: Guohu, Erhu, Cello, Double-bass; and two percussionists. The piece is bi-partite. The first section lacks the concept of beat in Western terms. The elaborate and subtle change of timbre is the essential quality of this section. On the contrary, the second section is constructed upon continuous 16th notes performed by the plucked instruments; therefore, the tone color change is minimal. The rhythm now is vivid and this section is like a dance of the wind.
The World of Chinese PaintingTo play its RealAudio demo, click the following buttons
World Premiere: March 24, 2002. The National Experimental Chinese Orchestra conducted by Qu chunquan
A 28-minute works based on 9 Chinese paintings of different epochs ranging from the Neolithic Era to the 20th Century. 1. Neolithic Fresco Apollo Sacrifice , 2. Wang Wei (701 - 761) of Tang Dynasty: Yangtze River in Snow,3. Dunhuang Fresco of Tang Dynasty: The Holy Bible of Eternity; 4. Guo Xi (1020 - 1109) of Song Dynasty: The Early Spring,5. Zhang Zeduan (1085 - 1145) of Song Dynasty: Qingming Festival by the River ,6. Qi Baishi (1864 - 1957) : The Bug on a Shell-shaped Leaf ,7. Wang Binhong (1865 - 1955): The View of Xiling, 8. Xu Beihong (1895 - 1953): A Galloping Horse ,9. Zhang Daqian (1899 - 1983): Before the Heavy Rain .
Hearing the Stream for Soprano Saxophone, Erhu, Guozheng, Sanxian, and PercussionTo play its RealAudio demo, click the right button
World Premiere: July 21, 2001. Christian Wirth & Shao Ensemble
An experimental work commissioned by Diapason Saxophone Quartet in 2000. It demonstrates a colorful blend of the western and Chinese compositional techniques and timbres.
The Eternal City for Chinese OrchestraTo play its RealAudio demo, click the right button
World Premiere: March 10, 2000 at the City Hall Concert Hall, Hong Kong. Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
The Eternal City was completed in December 1999, Taipei . Incessant change, rapid and multifarious, yet smooth and imperceptible, just like Hong Kong ’s history and city life, is the main characteristic of this piece. The modernization of Hong Kong has not prevented it from retaining its Chinese tradition. The towering skyscrapers, traditional sampans, and the KCR clock tower--the most unforgettable symbols of the Victoria Harbor , offer a permanent display of harmony between past and future, east and west. This composition expresses such an unusual co-existence of two cultures in many directions: element that is metrical along with ametrical, tonal with atonal, traditional musical phraseology with avant-garde dissonant sound mass, and natural instrumental physicality with intellectual “orchestration.” It is thus expected that such integration of western contemporary compositional technique and traditional Chinese sound elements could establish a new sound horizon and musical identity.
Drumming No. 4 for 6 PercussionistsTo play its RealAudio demo, click the right button
World Premiere: March 31, 1998 at the National Theater, Recital Hall, Taipei. Percussion Ensemble of the National Taiwan College of Arts.
When I first heard the performances given by Onkedoza from Japan and Jiangzhou Drum Troupe from Shanxi Province, China during my formative years, I was excited and stimulated by their spiritual approach to drumming and the performances' energetic outbreak. In some ways, Drumming No. 4 is the repayment of this longstanding debt. While given the opportunity to compose a percussion piece for the Ensemble Orientalia ofTaipei, I wanted to display the spiritual power of the Oriental drumming rhythms brought out by a timbrally heterogeneous drumming ensemble. This piece may be imagined as a process of culmination of polyphonic forces generated by metrically regulated and chaotic, unmetrical rhythms operating on different, but simultaneously unfolding levels.
Music for A New MillenniumTo play the 1st movement demo, click the right button
World Premiere: October 23, 1999 at the National Concert Hall, Taipei. Experimental Chinmese Orchestra conducted by Qu chunquan
A new work in 3 movements for large Chinese orchestra commissioned by the Experimental Chinese Orchestra in 1999 to celebrate the coming of a new millennium.
Sui Gu Zhi II for 2 Percussion Soloists, Ancient Tuned Bronze-Bell-Set, and Chinese OrchestraTo play its RealAudio demo, click the right button
World Premiere: June 20, 1999 at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, , Taipei. Taipei Municipal Chinese Orchestra conducted by Chung-Sen Chen
The second version of Sui Gu Zhi , a single-movement work for 2 percussionists and large Chinese orchestra commissioned by the Taipei Municipal Chinese Orchestra in 1998. The form and orchestration are inspired by the Tang Dynasty court music. A special parts for ancient tuned bronze-bell-set (played by 5 players) is added.
Sui Gu Zhi for 2 Percussion Soloists and Chinese OrchestraRealAudio demo
World Premiere: September 3, 1998 at the National Concert Hall, Taipei. Taipei Municipal Chinese Orchestra conducted by Chung-Sen Chen
A single-movement work for 2 percussionists and large Chinese orchestra commissioned by the Taipei Municipal Chinese Orchestra in 1998. The form and orchestration are inspired by the Tang Dynasty court music. This work consists of three sections: The first section is an introduction features percussion section. The second section is very lyrical and emphasizes on soloists' graceful body movement. The third is an energetic vivace section. This work is concluded with the original melody taken from the last piece "Sui Gu Zhi" from the Dunhuang Music for Pipa edited by Ye Dong.
Mountain Ritual for Sanxian and 4 Cellos To play its RealAudio demo, click the right button
World Premiere: December 6, 1998 at the National Theater, Recital Hall Taipei. Experimental Chinese Orchestra. Sanxian: Pi-ching Yao,
A challenging piece for solo sanxian accompanied by 4 cellos. This piece is now included in the 15th Anniversary CD set of the Experimental Chinese Orchestra.
String Poem for Solo SanxianRealAudio demo
World Premiere: December 6, 1998 at the National Theater, Recital Hall Taipei. Sanxian: Pi-ching Yao,
A solo piece for sanxian of great virtuosity, about 10 minutes long.
Jiang Jun Ling for Pipa, Erhu, Sanxian, Bamboo Flute, and 2 PercussionistsReal lAudio demo
World Premiere: June, 1996 at the National Theater, Recital Hall Taipei. Ensemble Orientalia of Taipei
A 8-minute piece for Chinese chamber ensemble based on the well-known ancient Pipa piece Jiang Jun Ling.