Symphonic Overture No.2

This overture is the 1st piece of a series, "Symphonic Concert No.2", op.47. A Violin concerto in 3 movements, op.47b, is the 2nd, which is followed the Symphony in A flat major, "Phoenix" in 5-movements-, Op.47c. These three separate pieces share certain related features and leitmotifs to form a grand musical structure.

The <Symphonic Overture No.2> is also written in a sonata form with a slow and mysterious introduction. After a dramatic and powerful development, the music eventually ends in a triumphant roar. Here is an ancient expression saying that "The beginning of a year is spring", while the Qing-ming festival is an important reminder for sowing. this festival is also a day to commemorate the deceased ancestors, which is most revered in Chinese traditions. The idea of "The Consecration of Spring" came from such sentiments. Nonetheless, the composer doesn't mean to evoke a lamenting atmosphere. Through commemorating past turmoil and glory, the composer does expect a brilliant future for the nation of China.

Commissioned by the Ontario Art Council, the premiere was performed successfully by Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Paul Robinson, whom the overture being dedicated to, in Toronto, November, 1989. It has been widely performed and warmly received in the North America, Singapore and Beijing, China.

The CD of it, performed by the Russian philharmonic Orchestra, has been released by the ROI, HK in 1998.

Score Order => 

Symphonic Overture No.1

SYMPHONIC OVERTURE No.1, Op.25a (1976-78)
This overture is the 1st piece of the music series, "Symphonic Concert No.1",op.25.
The Symphonic Overture No.1, as the premiered title "The Consecration of Spring No.1", is in sonata form with a slow and mysterious introduction. After a dramatic and powerful development, the music eventually ends in a triumphant roar. There is an ancient expression saying that "The begining of a year is spring", while the Qing-ming festival is an important reminder for sowing. this festival is also a day to commemorate the deceased ancestors, which is most revered in Chinese traditions. The idea of Symphonic Overture No.1" came from such sentiments. Nonetheless, the composer doesn't mean to evoke a lamenting atmosphere. Through commemorating past turmoil and glory, the composer does expect a brilliant future for the nation of China.
The premiere of the Symphonic Overture No.1 was performed by both of the Central Opera(Zheng, Xiao-ying conductor) and the Central Philharmonic(Han, Zhong-jie conductor) in Beijing, 1978. The entire "Symphonic Concert No.1", including the piano concerto(Joseph Banowets pianist) and the symphony(Li, De-lun conductor), was premiered by the Central Opera in Beijing, 1986.
The CD of the piano concerto has been also released .
[Duraion: 21 Min']

Score Order => 

Bayanhar - Symphonic Poem, Opus 50 (1991)

Yellow River has been running with the Chinese history for more than 5000 years, and the source of this great river is Bayanhar mountain. Setting on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, melting snow flows down from Bayauhar along with stream of mountains bring gathered into a smaller river named Maqu, from there the source gains its strength becomes the mighty force of Yellow River.

This Symphonic Poem delineates the landscape of Byanhar in approximately four sections. The first section depicts the loftiness of the Bayanhar mountain; then a music of Tibetan dance with the sound of their horses begins the 2nd section. A blizzard follows this peaceful scene, but eventually, a pious hymn leads the symphonic poem to its glorious climax.

The composer dedicated this Symphonic Poem to his closest friend, Canadian conductor Tak-ng Lai. Since the premiere by the Niagara Youth Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Lai, this piece has been widely performed and warmly received, including a national award of Taiwan and great success with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.
[Duration:20 min.]

Instrumentation:
Flauti piccolo, 2 Flauti, 2 Oboi, 2 Clarinetti in B flat, 2 Fagotti, 4 Corni in F,
3 Trombe in B flat, 3 Tromboni, 1 Tuba, 4 Timpani, Piatti, Triangl, Tamburo, G.C. Arpa and Strings.

Score Order => 

Three Short Works: Opera Overture "Yue Fei" and Two Pieces in Saibei Folk Style selected from "Saibei Suite No.1 "A Morning Song on the Mountains" and No.2, "Saibei Dance"

1.Opera Overture “Yue Fei”: 
     For the four-act opera based on the tragic-historic story of Yue Fei, a general and national hero in the Southern Soong Dynasty, the overture gives a joyous scene of victory of the Soong troops at the town of Zhuxian and thus in sharp contrast to the following tragedy drama.
2. Two Pieces in Saibei Folk Style: 
     No.1, “A Morning Song on the Mountains” [10 min.], 
             selected from “Saibei Suite No.1”, using the different        instrumental colors, from cool and dark to warm and bright, the music gives a scene of sun-raise in Saibei area. And, without a break, the music moves to its 
     No.2, “Saibei Dance” [4 min.], 
              which was composed in the typical wind-percussion musical style of the Northern West China. 
It's selected from “Saibei Suite No.2”.

1. Opera Overture “Yue Fei”, Op.37 (1986)
     The full-scale opera “Yue Fei”(op.37) was originally written by the composer in partial fulfillment of graduation requirements at the Yale University, and earned him the Most Outstanding Graduate prize of the Yale Alumni Association in 1986. This is Huang’s eighth opera score, with Xu Qing-dong’s libretto, which has been dedicated to Liu Shi-rong, Dedicated to the renowned Chinese woman conductor, Zheng Xiao-ying, this four-act opera is based on the tragic-historic story of Yue Fei, a general in the Southern Soong Dynasty. But the overture is a joyous scene of victory of the Soong troops at the town of Zhuxian and thus in sharp contrast to what is to the following tragedy drama. The overture also gives an early indication of the deep and generous character of the hero, Yue Fei. While the overture was premiered by Yale Philharmonic Orchestra in 1986, the entire opera hadn’t been staged yet for a public performance.
[Duration:2 and half min.] 

2.Two Pieces in Saibei Folk Style
     selected from “Saibei Suite No.1, Op.15(1973) and No.2, Op.21(1975)
     Saibei is the region in North of the Great Wall, China, including part of Hebei, Shanxi and Inner-Mongolia. The folk music there is very unique, especially for its big leap of the melodicline. 
     In this style, without using any original folk tune, An-lun Huang composed two”Saibei Suites in early seventies. They were then premiered successfully by the Central Opera Orchestra, conducted by Zheng xiao-ying. 
     As a commission of the Bamburg Symphony Orchestra, Germany, Huang re-orchestrated these two pieces from the suites. Since their successfully Germany premiere, they have been widely performed and warmly received around the world, including the CD by the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra of Moscow, conducted by Tak-ng Lai, in 1996.
     No.1, “A Morning Song on the Mountains” [10 min.], 
            selected from “Saibei Suite No.1”, using the different instrumental colors, from cool and dark to warm and bright, the music gives a scene of sun-raise in Saibei area. And, without a break, the music moves to its
     No.2, “Saibei Dance” [4 min.], 
            which was composed in the typical wind-percussion musical style of the Northern West China. 
It's selected from “Saibei Suite No.2”.
[Duration:15 min.]
Instrumentation:
Flauti piccolo, 2 Flauti, 2 Oboi, 2 Clarinetti in B flat, 2 Fagotti, 4 Corni in F,
3 Trombe in B flat, 3 Tromboni, 1 Tuba, 4 Timpani, Piatti, Triangl, Tamburo, G.C. Arpa and Strings.

Score Order => 

Opera Overture "Yue Fei"

Two Pieces in Saibei Folk Style