“Song of Praise”: A Chinese-Canadian Story
We just finished crafting our new program! 🤩💘🎻
‘Song of Praise’ is a special and personal program that explores the complex and multidimensional aspects that make up our identities as Chinese-Canadian classical musicians. This collection of diverse repertoire not only pays homage to our Chinese heritage, but also highlights our passion for Canadian culture and advocates for Western classical masterpieces. Being born in China, immigrating at a young age to Canada, and growing up shaped by our intensive study of Western classical music, all three elements became intertwined and deeply rooted in our personalities.
The program will feature traditional Chinese melodies, contemporary female Chinese-Canadian composers, and classical masterworks, all of which resonate strongly with us in a variety of ways. The opening piece, ‘Butterfly Lovers’, is a familiar folk tune which imitates the traditional Chinese instrument ‘Er Hu’ and follows a beloved ancient tale of forbidden romance. The composition also draws inspiration from the genre of Beijing opera. The title piece, ‘Song of Praise’, is another important work for its tribute to Inner Mongolia’s folk tunes, its illustration of the beautiful prairies, and its imitation of the horse head fiddle – a cultural symbol that was recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This piece represents the Inner Mongolian people’s vision for a better future, and it speaks to us personally because both our families immigrated to Canada in hopes of finding greater opportunities and creating a better life for future generations.
As first generation immigrants ourselves, we aim to promote female Chinese-Canadian composers such as Vivian Fung and Alice Ping Yee Ho, whose works draw many influences and inspirations from their homeland. We are also including Prokofiev’s Second Violin Sonata because of our deep-rooted love for Russian music. Growing up surrounded by Western classical music and warmly embraced by our Russian teachers and their culture and families, Prokofiev’s music resonates with us just as familiarly as traditional Chinese melodies.
Through this program, we aim to share the important value of Chinese culture, traditions, stories, and art within the context of new Canadian music and classical Western music. This concert embraces the questions, challenges, complexities, and beauty of our multicultural identities and brings to life the power of the musical experience when all these diverse elements come together to represent who we are as people and artists.
