http://www.wasbe.org/conferences/2011-wasbe-conference/concert-9-taiwan-wind-ensemble
by Ruth Wilson
Lecturer in Horn, Sonoma State University

 

Yiu-Kwong Chung is Taiwan's leading composer. Besides his wind band music, he has composed Chinese operas and numerous concertos, including Beyond the Silk Road for string quartet and orchestra, which will receive its premiere by the Kronos Quartet. Totem Pole for Wind Orchestra depicts in ear-shattering detail the violent clashes between the “civilized” world and the indigenous peoples they displace. The nine-minute work begins like a Disney animated film score that very quickly (nasty flutter-tonguing in the trombone, agitated drums) becomes a primal scream (polyrhythmic percussion, brass and wind shrieks). The highlight of the piece is the compelling rhythmic writing (Chung is a percussionist) employing the full battery of percussion with complex meters inspired by African, Mayan and aboriginal Taiwanese music. A master storyteller, Chung writes with a bold expressiveness that could come across as phony- yet it does not. It was a pleasure to hear, for example, simple unison melodies and sections of chorale writing as a direct form of expression. Conductor Lian-Chang Kuo, professor and conductor at Fu Jen Catholic University, led his charges with passionate intensity and drew from them their best playing of the day. The composer humbly accepted the accolades of appreciation from the audience. This is a name to watch for.
韶華之聲——記臺北《韶》現代樂團室內樂音樂會

2009-05-27 来源: 中央音乐学院 作者: 音乐学者 陈心杰

5月25日下午兩點整,來自寶島臺灣的《韶》現代樂團將他們極富新意和熱情的演出帶到了中央音樂學院演奏廳。《韶》樂團是由來自臺灣藝術大學的畢業校友和老師所組成的一支現代樂樂團。作為臺灣唯一結合中西樂器的的現代樂團,他們一直以其新穎的音樂觀念享譽並活躍於各個舞臺。
《韶》樂團所帶來的演出果然不負眾望,他們的音樂中散發著一種年輕而蔥郁的味道,以及對表達自己音樂觀念的熱忱。首先上演的是由著名作曲家鐘耀光先生的作品《聽泉》,樂隊由高音薩克斯、二胡、古箏、三弦、鋁片琴組成。這樣中西結合的方式與平日我們所常見的方式有很大不同。首先薩克斯和鋁片琴在西方樂隊裡本身就屬於特性樂器,個性十分突出。因此觀眾們都十分好奇究竟這樣的組合能如何相融,又將創造怎樣的音境呢?然而此曲不但利用了薩克斯能發出的各種奇特音色,還在二胡和薩克斯的結合、古箏與三弦的結合中營造出濃厚的古典韻味。鋁片琴的叮咚聲和薩克斯模仿泉眼潺泡的聲音相對,使人想起了日本庭院泉溪中的“添水”或“僧都”。閉上眼,聽風聲乍起,“添水”竹段敲擊的聲響成了最安靜的冥想。當音樂順勢而發時,清水從泉眼匯入泉溪,薩克斯竟成了旋律的主奏樂器,如同一片黃葉不經意落入水流中,漂旋而下。一種幽然、清遠而富於禪意的意境油然而生。《聽泉》一曲是整場音樂會中筆者最為欣賞的樂曲,它所持有的巨大包容性使傳統聽覺偏向和現代音樂觀念的共存得以實現。
若要說最能提起場內氣氛,表演最為精彩和激情的應該是同為鐘耀光先生的《儺舞》一曲。這雖然是一部完全的打擊樂作品,並且全部由一個人完成表演,但是它所帶來的狂熱和激情同樣震撼了所有觀眾,誰都沒想到如此瘦弱的打擊樂演奏家鄭雅心小姐能爆發出如此大的能量。樂器一共有六、七種,她手腳並用,鼓槌、鼓棒、手掌所帶來的不同鼓音,帶著原始與現代的結合、中西方的結合,一口氣完成了長達十多分鐘的鼓曲,沒有任何停歇。整首鼓曲的亮點不但在於這些結合,還在於其豐富的音色和節奏的韻律交織。此外,鼓者的織體語言也很有特點,突然讓筆者想起此曲的標題《儺舞》。“儺舞”本身是一種來自於中國中南部少數民族的祭祀性舞蹈場面,尤其在苗族的“儺舞”巫術祭祀場面中,也常常有大型的集體的鼓樂場面。雖然“儺舞”是一個很大的文化概念,其歷史與內涵是無法簡單表達的。但筆者猜測,無論鐘耀光先生是否是從這個儺舞深層概念出發,亦或僅僅想借此來模仿和表達對儺舞的場面,鼓樂《儺舞》都不失為一個別有趣味的作品。
《一個瘋子的呻吟》,應該是全場最具新意的作品了。上低音薩克斯演奏者在人聲與樂器之間徘徊交錯。通過人聲的呻吟、哼唱、語言讀白、抽泣和歎氣聲完成情景化和臆想場景中“瘋子”一角的心裡和行為,而穿插的薩克斯之音充滿著撕裂、怪誕和狂躁的氣息,讓人無法沉思也無法平靜。
《薩哈薩克斯》一曲則是在律動的駕馭中踏步,很有進行式和爵士的味道。它的奇妙之處還在於整個主旋律和複雜的律動伴奏都是由一支薩克斯完成。雖然非常短小精悍,但其豐富的內容卻是不容忽視的。這不但需要作曲家對樂器的不同音色和吹奏方法有透徹而創新的理解,也需要演奏者高超的演奏技巧和良好的節奏駕馭能力。從這幾點說,不得不讓人折服。
此外,為中音薩克斯而作的《輻射空間》、為顫音鐵琴和電子音樂而作的《極限》、中音薩克斯的《第一號即興曲》,為綜合打擊樂而作的《似不像》以及為中音薩克斯與打擊樂而作的《杵歌》也都各有特色,並且從各自不同的角度發展出新鮮的創作理念。這些作品大多都充分探索和利用了各個樂器鮮為人知、鮮為人用的音色或技巧。再加之獨特的組合方式等等,就構成了整場音樂會最突出的特色,也是《韶》樂團的成功之處。同時,無論作品如何前衛,如何創新,我們也可以從中聽出作曲家以及演奏家所具有的深厚傳統音樂底蘊,以及扎實的西方音樂創作、演奏技巧。
即便音樂會結束後,我們還依稀能感受到《韶》樂團所帶來的一股年輕而蔥郁的味道。同時這個味道還需繼續醞釀,直到它散發出更加亮麗的光彩。

 

Guitarist, 2005, No. 2  (Russian Guitar Magazine)

"Unforgettable Celebration of the Guitar" by Igor Rekhin

...The concerto "For Eva" by Yiu-kwong Chung, which caught audience's interest with the exotic pentatonic material in combination with the avant-garde method of musical letters.  The composition wins you with its poetry, delicacy, genuineness as well as the inventiveness and difference in the use of the guitar in the musical scene...."

La Nueva España, 31st January, 2002  by F. Prendes Veiga  (translated by Jeffery Prentice)

   "Guyue", Concerto for Timpani, Strings and Harp by Yiu-kwong Chung was a composition that introduced a concert with oriental themes, that explored the science and sounds of timpani of Asian music.   Although with the exception of sounds and fragments, the concerto could not be considered pure oriental music.  Yiu-kwong Chung, formerly a percussionist brought out the best part of his composition through the timpani.   It is not usually normal to have a percussionist as a soloist.  Normally the percussion family remains in the back of the orchestra.   The timpanist Jeffery Prentice of the OSPA took advantage of the solo opportunity, climaxing with an impressionable cadenza in the 3rd movement. Yiu-kwong Chung's presence at the concert brought a strong reaction from the audience and the orchestra, which showed the talents of Prentice and the orchestra.  It was a real pleasure for Aviles to have the opportunity to hear such a high quality premiere ...
La Voz de Asturias, 1st February, 2002  by Cristine Rio (translated by Jeffery Prentice)

  The OSPA performed a distinct concert Friday night with a premiere by Yiu-kwong Chung.  "Guyue", Concerto for Timpani, Harp and Strings.  Chung's piece occupied the total first part of the concert.  The work contained oriental sounds with the characteristic timpani sound.  The three movements were played with conviction and interest of the strings, but the main force was provided by the soloist, Jeffery Prentice.

   Jeffery Prentice was magnificent using a thousand and one techniques and resources, all perfectly at his fingertips.  The interchange between the orchestra and the timpani was surprisingly interesting...

Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4

The Japan Federation of Composers Bulletin, January 1999,  No. 145 

Two Reviews of String Quartet Upon the Surging Billows, Flakes of Snow (in Japanese)

Page 1, Page 2 (in PDF format).

Picture 1

The New York Times, 29th September, 1998 by Paul Griffiths

Yiu-kwong Chung's "Upon the Surging Billows, Flakes of Snow" was far more effectively written and correspondingly got a far more exciting performance from the Elsner Quartet.  It was music of long stillnesses and sudden bursts of energy, compellingly developed.

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Sevenska Dagbladet, 5th October, 1994 by Lars Hedblad (Sweden)

The opening work at the evening concert, "Bihua" (Fresco) by the Chinese composer Yiu-kwong Chung, was a large-scale, colorful piece, based on Westernized yin-yang philosophy, popular idiom and so on, all for the benefit of a "nationalistic pathos".

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