Chinese Piano Music
Works of the 20th century
This extraordinary edition includes a selection of piano works by Chinese composers from the second half of the 20th century. They are marked by Western influences while also reflecting the multifaceted folk music of China. They range from short character pieces to sonatinas, from simple song arrangements to multi-movement cycles. These works are of medium difficulty and offer a representative cross-section of a musical cosmos that remains largely unknown in Europe. Predominantly pentatonic in character, these works unite the magic of Far Eastern music with the sound of the piano.
We were able to get the well-known pianist Jingxian (“Jane”) Xie from Shanghai to select these compositions, which she herself regularly performs in the concert hall. She not only provided the fingerings, but has also written a preface that offers a general overview of modern Chinese piano music and introductions to each of the individual pieces.
Content/Details
About the Authors
Jingxian Xie (Editor, Fingering, Introduction)
Jingxian (“Jane”) Xie first studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under Zheng Shuxing and later at the University of Music and Theatre Munich under Gitti Pirner, where she graduated with distinction in 2008.
As one of the outstanding Chinese pianists of her generation and winner of international piano competitions in Germany, Spain and the USA, Xie has performed in many countries around the world. As a chamber musician, she has performed with cellist Carlos Prieto Jacqué, violinist David Garrett, the British Navarra String Quartet and other renowned musicians. She is currently a professor and master’s advisor for the piano department at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
In short, there would be no fitting or fair conclusion to this review other than to hail this collection as one of extreme cultural significance, and which may well prove to be one of the most important piano music publications of the decade.
Pianodao, 2024
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