Zhou Long is a pioneer in adapting the sounds and techniques of ancient Chinese musical traditions for modern Western instruments.
Performer Biography
Sharon Bezaly, the flutist on this album, has been described as "God's gift to the flute" by The Times (UK) and plays a custom-made 24-carat gold flute.
Composer Biography
Bright Sheng, born in Shanghai, studied piano from age four and worked as a pianist and percussionist in a folk music troupe during China's Cultural Revolution.
Compositional Technique
In Zhou Long's "Five Elements", each movement represents one of the traditional Chinese elemental energies (metal, wood, water, fire, earth), manifesting as cyclic changes of nature.
Composer Biography
Zhou Long, a 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner, is known for blending aesthetic concepts and musical elements of East and West in his compositions.
Album & Artwork
The album title "Across the Sea" and the featured composers (Zhou Long, Bright Sheng, Chen Yi) highlight a bridge between Chinese and American musical traditions.
Interpretation
Sharon Bezaly's perfect control of circular breathing, taught by Aurèle Nicolet, allows her to achieve new heights of musical interpretation.
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