Concerto For Piano Opus.16, in A minor

Composer: Edvard Grieg
Pianist: Jasmin Chen
Accompanist: Gohar Manvelyan

 I. Allegro moderato

 II. Adagio

 III. Allegro marcato

       Edvard Grieg ( June 15, 1843 - September 4, 1907 ) was a Norwegian composer and pianist who composed in the romantic period. This concerto is among Grieg's earliest important works. It provides evidence of his interest in Norwegian folk music; the opening flourish is based around the motif of a falling minor second followed by a falling major third, which is typical of the folk music of Grieg's native country. In the last movement of the concerto, similarities to the halling (a Norwegian folk dance) and imitations of the Hardanger fiddle (the Norwegian folk fiddle) have been detected.

        In addition, the general human tendencies of the heroic, active, poetic, excitably emotional Norwegian race from which Grieg sprang all seemed to be faithfully portrayed in this concerto, as were, no less, the characteristics of the landscapes and fjords capes of his native land; for the brilliant coloring and striking clarity of the scenes, the almost indescribable exhilaration of the Northern atmosphere, all seem mirrored in his music.

Jeux d’Eau

Composer: Maurice Ravel
Pianist: Jasmin Chen

        Maurice Ravel ( March 7, 1875 - December 28, 1937 ) was a Basque French composer and pianist of Impressionist and Expressionist music, known especially for the subtlety, richness and poignancy of his melodies and of his orchestral and instrumental textures and effects. Ravel's piano compositions demand considerable virtuosity from the performer.

        Jeux d’Eau, composed in 1901, was Ravel’s first important piano composition. This work brought together a new pianistic technique and daring impressionistic harmonies. It is a marvelous blend of bitonality, pentatonicism and impressionism. Ravel wanted the piece played with a crystal-clear, bubbling touch, with not too much freedom in the rhythm, emphasizing the lively, sparkling quality of water. The music was inspired by an epigram of Henri de Reynier, "Dieu fluvial riant de l'eau qui le chatouille (The river god laughs at the caressing water)", as reflected in the suggestion of joyful sensuality which is present in the music.

Memories in an Ancient Garden

Composer: Alexina Louie
Pianist: Jasmin Chen

        Alexina Louie ( July 30, 1949 - ) is one of Canada's most successful living composers. Her music represents the mixture of Eastern and Western music. Louie's inspirations include Debussy, Mozart, and Bach. In Louie's music, her Asian culture is expressed through a combination of traditional structures with contemporary language.

        “Memories in an Ancient Garden” is the second movement of “Scenes from a Jade Terrace”. It was written in 1988 to commemorate the opening of the new Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. It requires the pianist to perform extended techniques, such as hitting the strings of the piano with the hand or to strum its string like a harp. These create a special sound and atmospheric effect - evoking the sense of someone who had stumbled into a long forgotten garden.

春江花月夜（Flowers and Moonlight on a Spring River）

Chinese Traditional Music
Pianist: Jasmin Chen

      Flowers and Moonlight on a Spring River is one of the most famous Chinese traditional music works.  It has been popular among ordinary people since 1875, and has become one of the masterpieces in the treasury of Chinese classical music.  It paints a quiet scene of Yangtze River on a moonlit night in spring.  Since 1949, it has undergone many revisions, until now it is a highly polished piece.

       It was first played with two traditional Chinese instruments: pipa and bamboo flute.  The piano version is a simulation of these two.  At the beginning, a pipa is plunked faster and faster, giving out drumbeat-like notes.  After, a bamboo flute starts to produce the melody.  Through out the whole piece, contrasts between the two instruments -- one producing pellet-like short notes by twanging; and the other producing long-drawn-out notes -- conjures up a picture of a river in springtime.  

Piano Sonata No.13 in A major, D.664 (Op.120)

Composer: Franz Schubert
Pianist: Jasmin Chen

 I. Allegro moderato

 II. Andante

 III. Allegro

        Austrian composer, Franz Schubert ( Jaunary 31, 1797 - November 19, 1828 ) was among the first of the Romantics, and the composer who, more than any other, brought the art song (lied) to artistic maturity.  During his short but prolific career, he produced masterpieces in nearly every genre, all characterized by rich harmonies, an expansive treatment of classical forms, and a seemingly endless gift for melody.

        Piano Sonata in A major, D. 664 was written in the summer of 1819, which Schubert spent vacation with a closed friend in Steyr, some hundred miles to the west of Vienna.  Stylistically speaking, this delightful and well-known A major Sonata starts with a rich and full surrounding harmonies.  The central Andante has an almost obsessive aspect to it, not reduced in any way by the absolute saturation of the movement with a single rhythmic thought.  A humor, or at least playfulness, is a key ingredient of the finale.  The final bars of the Sonata are as tender a recount of the opening melody, pianissimo and molto legato, as one can imagine. 

Six Thèmes Solaires - Piano Soleil

Composer: Denis Gougeon
Pianist: Jasmin Chen

        Denis Gougeon ( November 16,1951 - ), a contemporary Quebec composer, describes himself as an 'intuitive' composer who wishes to touch the listener emotionally.  He admits to being influenced by the music of Claude Vivier and by the instrumental researches of 20th century French music.  His melodic music is popular with orchestras in both the Americas and Europe.  Gougeon has more than eighty works to his credit, ranging from solo to orchestral works, from concert music to chamber opera, from musical tales to works for the ballet. 

        Piano Soleil is a dense and abrasive piece.  It first starts with crystal-clear notes with rapid, strong finger work.  In the middle, there are some reflective and trembling sections that contrasted well with other sections and; finally, it comes to a quiet end as the last piano notes were allowed to fade away into a distance.

Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op.14

Composer: Robert Muczynski
Flutist: Marie-Noëlle Choquette
Pianist: Jasmin Chen

           I. Allegro deciso

           II. Vivace

           III. Andante

           IV. Allegro con moto

        Robert Muczynski ( March 19, 1929 - ) is considered one of America’s greatest contemporary composers.  His works have traveled the globe with performances in the major cities of Europe, Australia, and the Orient.  His orchestral and chamber music has been featured at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Wigmore Hall in London, and many other significant venues. 

        Sonata for Flute and Piano won the Concours International Prize in Nice, France in 1961.  Chromaticism, frequent articulation and lots of accents, syncopated rhythms, and ever changing dynamics make this an exciting piece.  It is now unanimously regarded by audiences, critics, and performers as an important addition to the repertoire. 

References:

1. "Edvard Grieg", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edvard_Grieg

2. "Maurice Ravel", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Ravel

3. "Alexina Louie", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexina_Louie

4. "Flowers and Moonlight on a Spring River", http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2003-09/24/content_39964.htm

5. "Franz Schubert", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Schubert

6. "Gougeon, Denis", http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001408

7. "Robert Muczynski", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Muczynski