New Music USA Online Library

NEAR DISTANCE

Chen Yi

Near Distance --- Lost in thought about ancient culture and modern civilization ---for chamber ensemble The sextet was written for flute (doubling alto flute), clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), violin, cello, piano and percussion (triangle, 3 temple blocks, 2 wood blocks, side drum, cymbal, 4 tom-toms, vibraphone, small tam-tam, median tam-tam and big tam-tam). It presents the composer "lost in thought about ancient culture and modern civilization" and her thinking about the parallels and contrasts between the East and the West. Near Distance takes us through a journey that covers thousands of miles and thousands of years. Contrasting moments of dense, busy activity with sparse, haunting lines the composer bridges the gap between the timeless history of her homeland and the ever-changing, energetic life in the modern society. The work was originally written under the request of Prof. Jacob Druckman, for a composition workshop at the Aspen Music Festival. It's dedicated to his memory with admiration and respect. Near Distance has been featured in "Sound and Silence," a series of ten documentary films on contemporary music, which has been broadcast on the European TV network since 1989, produced by the ISCM, Adamov Films and the Polish TV. It's also recorded on CRi released in 1998, under the title Sparkle: Chen Yi's Chamber Music.

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