The source material for this marvelous concerto is a folk melody from Anhui Province, which according to musicologist Funa Wang is characteristic of Southern Chinese opera melodies, often sorrowful and contemplative. The composer used this melody to evoke memories of his family and childhood in China and contrasts it in a series of “variations” with other material from Chinese opera. This concerto is one of the first great masterworks of 21st century orchestral literature and not only reflects the composer’s personal memories and feelings, but also Western feelings about the “exotic” world of Chinese music in general. It’s a brilliant work. The title of the work “Er Huang” is from the incipit of the song “Er huang yan ban” and has a few meanings, depending on how you pronounce Chinese. The most agreed upon translation is “But like a lie...”

@zhichanglin456

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for explaining, but speaking of the translation of "Er huang yan ban". I suppose you should separate it into "Er huang二黄" and "yan ban眼板"."Er huang" is a special type of vocal in the Chinese opera, as well as "Xi pi西皮". So we usually put them together as "Xi pi and Er huang西皮二黄", and that's how Chen titled this work. For "yan ban", in Chinese music theory, the upbeat is called YAN and the downbeat is called BAN, therefore leads to "yan ban". I'm pretty curious about the translation "But like a lie...", guess most people extract "huang yan" from this "Er huang yan ban", which can be pronounced as "谎言", means "lie" in Chinese. Probably there's a misunderstanding ：）

Chen's string writing is out of this world

"The climax at 12:48 is quite impressive"

I have no clue how this piece doesn't have more of a following. It is truly an incredible work.

@stacia6678

3 жыл бұрын

Especially the climax at 12:42

Do not forget Debussy, Ravel even Qigang's teacher Messiaen were all deeply influenced by Asian cultural and music. What you hear here is exactly Chen Qigang's original sound from his inner being. When you meet him in person, you will feel exactly about his music as his personality, which he is a simple, direct, gentle, graceful, stable, subtle, flow freely, a bit aloof and dry sense humor. His music is exactly who he is.

@somebody9033

Жыл бұрын

have you met him in person? I'm fascinated, tell me more please!

@wavechamber

Жыл бұрын

@@somebody9033 I shall say we were friend, but lost it for years. His music and him as a person echos exactly the same.

@somebody9033

Жыл бұрын

@@wavechamber oh wow. interesting! thanks for sharing.

@DavidEzequielPerez

11 ай бұрын

thank you so much for sharing

@germanklang

Ай бұрын

Totally agree with you.

12:51 has got to be one of the most emotional and most intense climaxes of pieces of music. It's so lively and inspiring, I love it!

The beginning with the solo piano is just wonderful it really touched me

通篇没有一样中国乐器，这种含蓄到极致的国风，与当下泛滥的古风不同，也不是像赵季平一样用原汁原味的声与韵让你酣畅淋漓；而更像是陈其钢的个人经历，一个学贯中西，半生旅居法国的中国人血液里那无法割舍的文化基因的自然流露。从二黄到蝶恋花，那九首组曲让我第一次感受到20世纪技法的感染力。他延续了拉威尔和恩师梅西安浓厚的法国风格，成功的创造出一种充满诱惑的静谧与虚无，又巧妙的利用江南丝竹和青衣水袖填补了这种空洞，没有一点当代技法的声嘶力竭和哗众取宠。 也许20世纪的技法没有原罪，只是在一些只会摆弄文化符号的庸人手下丢失了文化的根。先锋音乐中我曾最爱Petrushka，因他充满了俄国风情和原始元素。但我都不曾如此动情，因为这一次，他流淌在我自己的文化血脉中。

@florence616

6 жыл бұрын

说得太好了。

@zanexiao4488

5 жыл бұрын

原来他拜师了Messaien! 怪不得觉得耳熟。真的是法国的血肉，中国的骨髓与灵魂。

@zhiwenliu8620

5 жыл бұрын

说得太好了。

@zanexiao7892

3 жыл бұрын

西方古典音乐的根本身就很浅很浅（从巴赫至勋伯格不过两百年），在艺术家们尝试创新时很容易就丢失了自己文化的来源。德彪西尝试从文艺复兴音乐中找到法国音乐的灵魂，找到了自己的成功，但其实文艺复兴距离德彪西也不过三四百年罢了。与中国文化上千年的根基所能影响艺术的灵魂是不一样的。 其实欧洲并不是没有极其深远的文化根基。来自希腊，拜占庭，亚美尼亚，格鲁吉亚等地方的音乐都有千年的历史，只不过迂腐的古典音乐作曲家瞧不起，或者不知道罢了。

@jeancapgras

2 жыл бұрын

说得太好了。

Every time I listen to this MASTERPIECE I have tears in my eyes. Very grateful to Maestro Chen for composing such a beauty

This is a gem in the world of contemporary classical music.

Wow I never would have stumbled upon this gem had I not subscribed to your channel! Thank you so much, Cmaj7.

Sounds as if Ravel had a Chinese doppelganger (probably due to the fact that the composer lives in France)

@verslaflamme666

5 жыл бұрын

more similar to Messiaen tbh especially that was his teacher

@Eorzat

4 жыл бұрын

@@verslaflamme666 This doesn't sound like Messiaen though. The Ravel comparison is more appropriate if we're talking about harmonic language.

@gustavmadsen8971

4 жыл бұрын

I dont think youre doing Ravel (or Qigang Chen) any justice by comparing the two. The harmonic language is very different. This piece is basically all pentatonic scales, and the orchestration is nothing like Ravels. Yes there are instances where the two have similarities, but can you mention a piece by Ravel that uses the pentatonic scale to this degree? Like, he doesnt use it that often, so to me this more debussy ig

@eottoe2001

4 жыл бұрын

He was Olivier Messiaen pupil.

@XinhaoZheng

4 жыл бұрын

@@gustavmadsen8971 I'd like to say "Laideronette, l'impératrice des pagodas".

This just blew me away in the best possible way. Just wow. Incredible beauty. I hadn't even heard of this composer before. Thanks a lot for uploading.

Talk about orchestration! WOW

@Apfelstrudl

6 жыл бұрын

Brandon Williams Yeah let's talk.. 8:40 would never write such fast staccatos in oboe and clarinet (especially when it's solo and you hear it clearly) .. They can't use double tongue as the flute can and you can hear it sounds shit because they can't do it.

@craigjessup5190

6 жыл бұрын

The oboe sounds pretty good here actually, but yeah, the clarinet clearly struggles with this. Other than that the orchestration is solid

@zixiliu1711

4 жыл бұрын

@@ApfelstrudlThe fast staccatos are meant to imitate the birds, chatting and singing in the peaceful woods. You can tell from the irregular distribution of staccato and legato (the tie).

@zacharymckinnon6832

4 жыл бұрын

eragon812 idk about that, I’ve definitely heard clarinets you be faster than that. Could just be a player thing. Definitely is hard but wouldn’t call it impossible. Besides, composers that push the limitations of what’s considered possible is what pushes forward the advancement of instrumental technique. I’m sure there are plenty of things we consider normal that musicians from the past work consider borderline impossible lol

@XinhaoZheng

4 жыл бұрын

@@Apfelstrudl It's interesting because Qigang Chen is a clarinet player himself. Maybe it's too difficult for a regular clarinet player to play.

That's a beautiful sounding vibraphone.

@fryingwiththeantidote2486

6 жыл бұрын

gav3, me a, bo n er

@Scriabinfan593

3 жыл бұрын

@@fryingwiththeantidote2486 good I wasn’t the only one

Clear, smooth, and magnificently pleasant!! Congratulations to the composer for a job well done!

@GerrlichStudios

4 жыл бұрын

music like a beautiful marple

The Chinese Debussy. Seriously one of the best things i've heard thats contemporary.

@conradthe2

5 жыл бұрын

If you love this you'll love Rautavaara (Piano Concerto No. 3)

@zixiliu1711

4 жыл бұрын

Hahaha, tell me about contemporary music lmao.

@oceancheung6139

4 жыл бұрын

conradthe2 yes rautavaara is truly better

@underscoreellipsesdothyphe1563

4 жыл бұрын

@@conradthe2 yeah as soon as I heard this it reminded me of rautavaara , still good though

@Scriabinfan593

3 жыл бұрын

@@conradthe2 I discovered Rautavaara like a month or two ago when I first listened to his first piano concerto. His 3rd piano concerto is probably one of my all time favorites

thank you so much for this upload! It is a beautiful, beautiful work !!!!!

Just lovely, lovely, lovely ... wish I have the words to describe how this composition touched my emotions! Maestro Chen is brilliant composer!

这真是我听过最动人的交响诗了，在13：00左右，全曲进入高潮，在和谐的弦乐组带领的旋律下，穿插着钢琴快速且不和谐、甚至有些刺耳的音色，恰到好处的传达了一种脆弱的美感，就像桃花盛开、落下，在短暂的生命当中，绽放出最靓丽的风景。好诗！好诗！陈其钢神人也！

@stacia6678

2 жыл бұрын

I agree!

A wonderful piece, taking a very simple but beautiful melodic idea into a world of extraordinary soundscaping through a series of variations that constantly intrigue and delight in equal measure. A piece to be championed and be heard more regularly in concert. Music for the 21century.

keep coming back to listen to this

@MicoAquinoComposer

Жыл бұрын

Same, it's ravishing

This is wonderful, very touching, well designed, thanks to you and Qigang Chen!

i keep on coming back to this

such a beautiful piece

Amazing composer, thank you for sharing.

That was one of the most intense musical experiences of my life. So, so beautiful.

beautiful images of sounds combined with a deep touch of emotions and rhythmic tension that leeds into an aera of neo-impressionisme

What a truly wonderful work. Massive emotional impact with great power and delicacy all weighed beautifully in the finest of artist's hands.

Very immersive, thank you

12:45 is an amazing and emotional moment

Amazing piece, his pacing is quite admirable.

Thank you for this piece. Unique it is

Excelent work. Thanks for sharing!

It`s marvellous this concert!!!!!!

Gute Arbeit! Der Ton mit dreigestrichenem Cis auf Trompete in 14.30 hat mich sehr positiv beeindruckt.

This might just be the most beautiful Piano Concerto ever written. Especially that climax at 12:45 is devastating.

This is really beautiful and interesting ! 💞💞💞

Amazing composition! Bravo, bravisimo!!!!

cant get over this song

Just delightful.

Wonderful!

So beautiful

beautiful

11:37 I felt like tearing up. So gorgeous ❤️

Beautiful

Thank you for sharing~!

@0hhSly

6 жыл бұрын

James i don’t think so

@wen-enpan5678

6 жыл бұрын

James composer name is Qi-Gang Chen

@UesagiCQ

6 жыл бұрын

Nope.

So very good.

This is exquisite. I can't think of words to quantify the inquantifiable.

Beautiful. Colourful.

awesome piece

What a masterpiece! I instantly fell in love with it! Such chords, such orchestration, such virutosity! I wholeheartedly thank you!

Wonderful

Thank ! :)

Wonderfull

All his music are delicious to human ears no matter where and which schools you belong to on this earth...simply he does not use any extended 'techniques' to express himself, still perfect in his way.

Wow. This is super romantic and lush.

very impressive

When the world bends around, when the structures of a civilization falter, it is good to return to that which in history does not flex, but on the contrary recovers courage, gathers the separated, pacifies without bruising. It’s worth recalling that the genius of creation is also moving in an history devoted to the destruction !

Beautiful! Who is his publisher? I want to buy a copy of the score for study.

@Cmaj7

5 жыл бұрын

Boosey and Hawkes

Loved it. I wish the contrabassoon was louder :) Seems a shame to lug that beast to a gig and have no one hear it.

The score is quite impressively engraved. Any source?

@Scriabinfan593

3 жыл бұрын

Boosey Hawkes has a watermarked version you can look at for free.

3:51 this single chord conjures up so many images

After an Erhuang we should expect a Xipi!

I would love to perform this work! Wonder if I can get in touch with the composer (and an orchestra) in order to bring it to life. Maravellous work

There’s no piano reduction of the orchestra part, is there? I’d love to play this with my teacher but sadly I don’t think there is a two piano version

Wow, incredible piece! Some harmonic changes and instrumentation choices remind me of Ravel (which is a good thing btw)

11:37 start of a beautiful section

oh its so pretty

stunning. I mean really. wowzers

Very intriguing. I like it a lot actually. 5 staves for piano??? 🤤

@wilh3lmmusic

2 жыл бұрын

Sorabji used 7

W O W

Wowwwwww

haha ,er huang and xi pi are the forms from Beijing opera. He likes to mix up between the southern and northern, etc. He is a brilliant musician, born with it.

How'd you discover this piece?

@Cmaj7

6 жыл бұрын

Qigang Chen was one of Messiaen's students so I decided to check him out.

@sethgordon4464

6 жыл бұрын

you can definitely hear Messiaen in this

@paulbu6003

6 жыл бұрын

This piece is quite famous amount Chinese conservatories.

@juanarciniega9944

5 жыл бұрын

Through Maxim Vengerov.

@pineapple_1066

3 жыл бұрын

My composition teacher recommended it, and I absolutely fell in love with it.

The clarinet starting from 15:10

@MegaCirse

3 жыл бұрын

Jūs vienatnē apgrūtināt visus

@stacia6678

2 жыл бұрын

It’s like the birth of a new civilization after the old one was getting wiped out during the climax. Breathtaking

Is it for a pianist who have 10000 hands ?

Sounds like einojuhani rautavara

@stacia6678

2 жыл бұрын

this not ratavara but it sound like rattavara

4:44

Awesome score! Do you by chance have a recording of Voyage D'Un Reve? Cannot find one.

12:41 Chopin: 2 staves is justice Liszt: nah 3 Rach: HAHA 4 Chen: H A H A F I V E

@musik350

3 жыл бұрын

sorabji: hold my incense...

The piano part in the climax looks like Sorabji but sounds completely different

@stacia6678

2 жыл бұрын

Because it’s relatively tonal, unlike Sorabji.

12:49

@stacia6678

2 жыл бұрын

Found you.

@ValzainLumivix

2 жыл бұрын

Ok

What does er huang translate to.

@blacksun2163

5 жыл бұрын

I was wondering that too, so I looked it up on google translate and it said "Yellow".

@nr2up

5 жыл бұрын

It's a type of technique-based musical form common in some regions of Chinese opera

Lovely piece, but I'm wondering why on earth the pianist played the last beat of measure 169 down the octave...

@Cmaj7

4 жыл бұрын

It may be because he's using an older version of the score. Chen revises his scores *a lot.* The recordings are generally of the original version, rather than the revised. The changes to this piece are relatively minor to compared to his revisions of some other pieces (the "revision" of Itinénaire d'une illusion, for example, is a completely different piece).

@jessekaiser21

4 жыл бұрын

@@Cmaj7 Ah, I see. Thanks for the insight! Nonetheless, this is an outstanding piece, and remarkably orchestrated as well.

16:25，真的听到了二黄，还是原板呐！ 有几位中国（或华裔）作曲家，实力超群、天赋异禀、学贯中西、兼容并蓄，不仅吃透了中国传统音乐，西方作曲技法更是如虎添翼。而77级以及之后中国各大音乐学院培养出的作曲学生，不仅西方的没学明白，中国音乐也几乎没搞懂，写出来的东西不仅四不像，也根本没有灵魂可言。

What's the meaning of the numbers??

@Cmaj7

4 жыл бұрын

Which numbers? There are quite a lot of them.

@jostimromerovargas8364

4 жыл бұрын

@@Cmaj7 for example. There is the number 1 at 1:28

@Cmaj7

4 жыл бұрын

@@jostimromerovargas8364 Rehearsal marks

@jostimromerovargas8364

4 жыл бұрын

@@Cmaj7 oh. Thanks!

Some people hear Débussie and Ravel, but I hear Lili Boulanger

the commercial has the Pastorale sonata of Beethoven .Isn't it funny how beautiful music can be when youre not prepared forit . whenI sit down at a recital or concert if I know what to listen for it makes me want to hear new ,pedaling,textures,innervoices,tonal variety phraseology like what Argerich,Pletnev ,Sokolov . but when its just the music it can truly be enough .

8:55

2:29 3:54 5:46 6:59

SINCE WHEN DID PIANO HAVE 5 STAVES?????!!!!!🤯🤯🤯🤯

it's a remarkable piece, however.

I’m in Heaven fuck…

12:48 Holy mother of all that is holy...

@stacia6678

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly how I feel

WOw . Stupefied ! I would love to hear this played in concert . Touched me and excited me and made me feel and slow down for a second . this is where concerti must go in 21st century . Brilliant music what a great experience ...and hearing this and not ever having heard of the composer was a memorable , remarkable experience too! Great experience, harmonies and adventure of where it all went !

@stacia6678

2 жыл бұрын

I totally agree, they should return to this style. Although composers like Ligeti have such a great style as well.. why not keep both alive?

@BrendanCalliesComposer

2 жыл бұрын

21st century boi?

more like a rhapsody for piano and orch. than a concerto.

@kgroveringer03

Жыл бұрын

It's a concerto. Chen wouldn't have titled it that way if he wasn't writing it as a concerto.

Is this actually Contemporary?!?!?!!? this could easily be called Debussy's Chinese Piano Concerto

@gon9684

2 жыл бұрын

Except not at all, I don't know from which universe you are but Debussy would never have composed something remotely similar. I think you suffer from vague structural similaritis, there's language (which even that is different in this case, but whatever) and then there's what each piece or composer has to say, very different stuff

As a pianist, I really don't appreciate having to read five staves at once...

We all agree this is a very sweet piece. So what is it lacking that would make it great? Yes, it is like Ravel but without the charm and the spice.