Near Distance

Description

Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet in Bb, Bass Clarinet, Percussion, Triangle, Temple Block, Wood Block, Side Drum, Cymbal, Tom-tom, Vibraphone, Tam-Tam, Tam-Tam, Tam-Tam, Violin, Cello, Piano — 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).xa0 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.xa0 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.xa0 It is 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.xa0xa0 It has also been recorded on CRI, released in 1999, under the title “Sparkle: Chamber Music of Chen Yi”. [now available through New World Records]—Chen Yi “Her piece… generates a vivid and wholly radiant color scheme.xa0 Harmonically, too, it seems to float enchantingly, its occasional ventures into microtones gracefully bending away from traditional tonality.xa0 Gorgeous music, this; one longs to hear more.”—Alan Rich, LA Weeklyxa0“‘Near Distance’ evinced some delicate, dramatic sonorities in its fusion of East Asian and Western musical impulses.”—John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune