Kangyi Zhang's compositions and flute performances

Kangyi Zhang

This piece was partly inspired after watching the TED talk “The Neuroscience of Decision-Making: Are We Foul or Fair?” by Kimberly Papillon. Facial features, accents or just a name can change our decisions dramatically. Two equally qualified persons can be either accepted or rejected for a job due to implicit associations of their names. Accents can create unconscious bias of intelligence and competence. Facial features can skew us in our judgement of someone’s trustworthiness.

Judging can be taken at multiple dimensions. The score starts off with repetitive quarter notes before progressing in complexity. My challenge was to convey the idea “Never judge a music by the score”. I wanted the players to perceive classical Mozart as equally challenging as modern complex scores like Ferneyhough and Xenakis. I have encountered numerous complex scores involving quintuplets, septuplets etc. which are impossible to be precise and in-sync with other human players. Here, I challenge myself to limit this score to the basic rhythms: duplets, triplets and quadruplets.

Another judging dimension occurs in the performance aspect. A tight-knit duo is mandated by the precise interactions between the violinist and pianist. This creates the vision of two players as one single entity.

Judging from the opening music, the listener (with no access to the score) forms preconceived notions about the minimalistic approach of the remainder of the piece. This is similar to how we rapidly form definitive first impressions about someone from non-verbal observations. Each listener holds a different schema and judges how the music will progress - as anticipated or with surprises. My belief of the ideal would be a healthy balance of both.

Always Judging for Violin and Piano

A reading of my piece 'Unit 731 - The Museum and the Survivors' by the UCLA Philharmonia

Unit 731 - The Museum and the Survivors (UCLA Philharmonia Reading 05.22.14)

This piece was first inspired by a conversation in Denver with my DJ friend Justin Cheasty. He talked about his experiences with Pro Tools and I immediately had an idea about using recordings of contemporary flute techniques. We also started talking about this amazing TED talk given by Hyeon-seo Lee “My Escape from North Korea”. Hyeon-seo Lee talked about her courageous journey of escaping North Korea and subsequently rescuing her parents from the totalitarian regime.

Several motivic ideas are used throughout three sections: “Confinement”, “The Escape”, and “A Poignant Liberation”. Several fragmentary motifs, which appear purposeless and restricted in the beginning, shift into continuous motion in the second section. Finally, the ideas are fully presented in meaningful and melodious themes. “A Poignant Liberation” depicts North Koreans who successfully escaped the regime but are now separated from their loved ones.

Utilizing audio recordings and synthesizers, this piece overcomes major challenges of flute performance. Contemporary flute techniques such as tongue pizzicato and jet whistle are hard to reproduce exactly using synthesizers. These sounds are crucial in representing the exhausted physical and mental state of the subject. On the other hand, synthesizers are utilized for their limitless possibilities.


Crossing the Border - Kangyi Zhang

Carlos Gardels (pianist) Kangyi Zhang (composer)
This is a pre-concert rehearsal recording.
19th May 2015, Schoenberg Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles

Everyone I know remembers the exact thing they were doing when the September 11th attacks occurred. This is a watershed in US history and the stories of my generation. Suddenly, the military might of America becomes powerless when faced with attacks from within. On the 11th September 2001, terrorists simultaneously hijacked four planes and crashed into the World Trade Center, Shanksville Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon, causing a death toll close to 3000.  

2nd movement – The Aftermath
In ‘Lamenting amidst falling ashes’, I recall Ground Zero as being shrouded in ashes while survivors and rescue workers appeared. Away from the city, I also visualize the vast open space at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the spirits of the innocents soared up to heaven. 

‘Remembering the heroes’ is a tribute to the 403 firefighters, police officers and Port Authority officers who rushed into the burning towers while everyone was rushing out. Three old American songs – ‘Shenandoah’, ‘Shall We Gather at the River’ and ‘America the Beautiful’ - are now finally presented in a more transparent manner. Listen carefully to the more deeply embedded ‘America, the Beautiful’.

Coincidentally, a day before I finished the piece (15th May ’14), President Obama dedicated the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. I would like to thank Prof Ian Krouse for his guidance in this piece.

Threnody for Victims of Sept 11th - 2. The Aftermath

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmcieL_zZ6o

The 3rd Edition of Orient/Occident 2015 Composers Competition
-Special Mention Winner

During WWII, Unit 731 was a covert biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army, located in Harbin, China. Together with affiliated units throughout Asia, these units saw the most horrendous prisoner experiments conducted in a systematic manner.

During the war, ceramic shells with fleas were dropped randomly onto surrounding villages to spread the bubonic plague. After the war, Unit 731 freed thousands of infected rats that caused widespread plague in 22 counties of Heilungchiang and Kirin provinces. This work commemorates the victims and the survivors. This movement is in 3 sections. ‘The survivors overcome grief and loss’ - The first three notes G-D#-C represent Unit 731. Other units which are represented are: 8604 (Guangzhou), 1855 (Beijing), 9420 (Singapore) and 1644 (Nanjing). ‘The survivors  congregate for hope and peace’ - Disparate melodic lines eventually come together with the flute and violin playing in unison. Here, I see the survivors gathering to spread an important unified message to the world. ‘The museum retains fragments of memories for future generations’ - Previous materials return and generate a feeling of everlasting impact.


Unit 731 - The Museum and the Survivors (Trio version) - Kangyi Zhang

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJWxK-r5d-c

Kangyi Zhang (Composer and Flutist)
26th Feb 2014
Graduate Composers Recital
Jan Popper Theater
Schoenberg Music Building, UCLA

My first inspiration for this piece came after watching 'Failing - A very difficult piece for solo string bass' by Tom Johnson. I have also been deeply enlightened by TED talks by Benjamin Zander and Michael Tilson Thomas. Hence, I thought I should write a piece which would be a young person's guide to the flute.

Section A demonstrates double tonguing on the high register of the flute. You will also hear a common technique called flutter tonguing.

Section B presents a Chinese folk-like melody using the middle register of the flute.

Section C explores the low register of the flute. The speech is directly taken from Al Pacino's inspirational speech in 'Any Given Sunday'.

Section D talks about quarter tones, trills and tremolos, lip and finger glissando. Harmonics occur when you overblow a fundamental note.

Section E explores key clicks, Aeolian (air) sound and tongue pizzicato (beatbox). Two techniques - tongue ram and jet whistle -- are done by tonguing or blowing into the tone hole.

Section F demonstrates the production of multiple sounds at once. You will hear octave multiphonics, distorted multiphonics, fingered multiphonics and singing-while-playing. The words 'Qui, Va, La' are the exact words from a famous piece -- Toru Takemitsu's 'Voice'.

Section G illustrates the versatility of the Western concert flute in playing different genres of music. I personally have been very inspired by the rock flutist Ian Anderson. The Japanese portion is reminiscent of shakuhachi playing. In a trip to Argentina, I was very impressed by the tango culture in Buenos Aires. Hence, I wrote in a style similar to Piazzolla flute masterworks. 


TED Talk - Variations on a Theme by Mozart (Kangyi Zhang)

During WWII, Unit 731 was a covert biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army, located in Harbin, China. Together with affiliated units throughout Asia, these units saw the most horrendous prisoner experiments conducted in a systematic manner. 

1. Fear: Walking Through the Gate of Inferno

Under the watchful eyes of the Japanese troops, the prisoners alight from the trains and enter the gates. No one dares to snatch a glimpse at the soldiers. Beginning with the piano and then all instruments, bolts of notes strike through the texture to represent intimidation and the hitting of rifle butts on prisoners. 
Towards the end of the movement, the pianist plucks out a fragment of a melody which will be the opening sounds for the violin in the second movement. The movement ends with the closing of the gate - the sealing of the fate of these prisoners.

2. Pain: Scratches on Walls and Tables

A victim is led from the prison cell to the experiment room. Key clicks and bow flicks mark the point when the victim finally arrives. His heartbeat races as he is being tied onto a table. A knife enters. He screams, writhes in pain and constantly scratches the table with his fingernails.
Chemical weapon tests were done in gas chambers and when the war ended, all the remaining prisoners were gassed. The soldiers (musicians) shout ‘3,2,1’ in Japanese to mark the start of the gassing process. The section ends with the collapse of the victims, marked by a heavy piano chord. The final section depicts the last moments of all these victims. Coughing and blood dripping sounds are heard above the violin melodic fragment which started the movement.

3. Remorse and Sorrow: The Walk Back in Time

My first inspiration for this movement came from Penderecki’s Prelude for clarinet solo. After 60 years, Yoshio Shinozuka returns to the site of his crimes. Against harsh criticism from his peers, he testified the horrific events as the Chinese families sued the Japanese government for compensation. The piece begins with the violin and the flute playing melodies based on two scales which are half-step apart (B and Bb). This half step relationship will serve as a fundamental material for the entire movement.
Later, the piano recalls the same plucking tune heard in the first movement, but with some variation.  As Shinozuka walks the complex, familiar scenes create reflections just like the reverberations of the piano strings caused by the flute and violin.

4. Hope: The Museum and the Survivors

During the war, ceramic shells with fleas were dropped randomly onto surrounding villages to spread the bubonic plague. After the war, Unit 731 released thousands of infected rats that caused widespread plague in 22 counties of Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces. 
This movement is in 3 sections. ‘The survivors overcome grief and loss’ - The first three notes G-D#-C represent Unit 731. Other units which are represented are: 8604 (Guangzhou), 1855 (Beijing), 9420 (Singapore) and 1644 (Nanjing). ‘The survivors congregate for hope and peace’ - Disparate melodic lines eventually come together with the flute and violin playing in unison. Here, I see the survivors gathering to spread an important unified message to the world. ‘The museum retains fragments of memories for future generations’ - Previous materials return and generate a feeling of everlasting impact.



Unit 731 (4 Movements) by Kangyi Zhang

Le Boeuf: Don't Say A Word

Taken from the soundtrack to 'Tabu'.
Released via Gizeh Records on December 16th 2016.
www.christineott.fr/disques.html

The live soundtrack "Tabu, a story of the south seas",
created in 2012 on the movie by F.W. Murnau & Robert Flaherty
All tracks composed & performed by Christine Ott
with Torsten Böttcher on 2, 6 & 9
Christine Ott : Piano, Ondes Martenot, Percussions
Torsten Böttcher : Hang

• • •

1. First Chapter - Paradise
2. Reri
3. Consolation
4. Course Vers La Mer
5. Hitu, La Grande Montagne
6. Sorrow / Lover's Dance
7. The Warning
8. Paradise Lost
9. Oriental Dance
10. Mandat d'Arrêt / La Perle
11. Hitu's Appearance
12. Cursed Lagoon
13. Hitu's Shadow
14. Le Sourire de Matahi / Consolation (Var. I)
15. Comptoir Chinois
16. Consolation (Variation II)
17. Rêve & Perle Noire
18. Tempête / The Tabu

• • •

Christine Ott is giving us, with this new album, her first inspiration to the screen - spontaneous and sometimes fragile. There is indeed a secret link which joins together Reri, daughter of the water, to Christine, sister of the Ondes Martenot. In these pure moments when Ott’s piano becomes a waterfall, a river, an ocean. In these heartbreaking moments when the composer, without ever over-playing manages to simply let go, thanks to a very mysterious and fascinating instrument, the tears that the audience may not always dare to have. [Thierry Méranger, Les Cahiers du Cinéma]

Le Sourire De Matahi - Consolation (variation I)

http://www.youtube.com/kangyiflute
https://www.facebook.com/singaporebangs

ADDO Chamber Orchestra (11 players) conducted by Clarence Tan
Orchestra's Choice Award
Audience Choice Award
2017 "Have You Experience?" Composition Laboratoryand Competition
13-17 July 17 Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Recital Studio

This work was originally written for flute, violin and piano. This version is for ADDO chamber orchestra inaugural "Have You Experience?" composition laboratory (2017).

During WWII, Unit 731 was a covert biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army, located in Harbin, China. Together with affiliated units throughout Asia, these units saw the most horrendous prisoner experiments conducted in a systematic manner.

During the war, ceramic shells with fleas were dropped randomly onto surrounding villages to spread the bubonic plague. After the war, Unit 731 freed thousands of infected rats that caused widespread plague in 22 counties of Heilungchiang and Kirin provinces. This work commemorates the victims and the survivors.

This movement is in 3 sections. ‘The survivors overcome grief and loss’ - The first three notes G-D#-C represent Unit 731. Other units which are represented are: 8604 (Guangzhou), 1855 (Beijing), 9420 (Singapore) and 1644 (Nanjing). ‘The survivors congregate for hope and peace’ - Disparate melodic lines eventually come together with more instruments playing in unison. Here, I see the survivors gathering to spread an important unified message to the world. ‘The museum retains fragments of memories for future generations’ - Previous materials return and generate a feeling of everlasting impact.

Unit 731 - The Museum and the Survivors (chamber orchestra 11 players)

10th December 2017, 7.30pm, Victoria Concert Hall
Postcards from Singapore
premiered by Soh Wei Qi
2017 National Piano & Violin Competition (Singapore) 
Prize Winners Concert
Set piece for senior category

In this work, I share three different facets of Singapore which I find unique. Music materials are derived from several Malay folk-songs popular in the Malay Archipelago (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia etc.) – Dayung Sampan, Chan Mali Chan, Rasa Sayang. The work begins with “Civilian War Memorial” to highlight the trials and tribulations suffered during WWII. Located prominently in the heart of the central business district, this memorial reminds us of the war atrocities, particularly the Sook Ching massacre. The peaceful melody of Dayung Sampan gradually gains momentum and a sense of grief.

Next, I write about “Hawker Centres”, a fast polyrhythmic section where Rasa Sayang melody is juxtaposed with Chan Mali Chan. I have always been impressed by how overseas Singaporeans are willing to drive long distances for great Asian food. At our local food paradise, the atmosphere is joyful amidst the intense noise and chaos. Singaporeans fight aggressively for seats and “chope” the tables with tissue packets or other objects. To symbolize this, the pianist taps the piano loudly. As I was writing this work, a couple was charged over a shoving incident at Toa Payoh hawker centre. Such an ugly spat is rare but it reminds me of the competitiveness of Singaporeans.

The view of Marina Bay is a popular feature on many Singapore postcards. Against all odds, this young nation rapidly rose from third world to first. I imagine the skyscrapers, which are monuments of success, rising above the waters. The arpeggios at the beginning returns and the Rasa Sayang theme appears prominently. Finally, I included a short coda “Honoring our Forefathers”. The best way to honor them is to appreciate their contributions and strive for greater success.

Postcards from Singapore premiered by Soh Wei Qi

1. Monsoon Storm
2. Sunrise through the Trees
3. Song of the Rainforest
4. Fire, the Giver and Destroyer of Life
5. Dance of Oneness (including some Rice Wine)
6. Canopy Dreams

STIRRINGS within the Rainforest somewhere in Southeast Asia (6 movements)

Talented trombonist Wes Lebo sits in to discuss his unique path to become a professional musician as well as his experiences on and off the stage in Columbia during the 2018 season of Hot Summer Nights. (Selections from Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders and I Have a Dream from Kangyi Zhang’s “Let Freedom Ring” Concerto in Singapore).

102 - Hot Summer Nights with Trombonist Web Lebo

Unknown album (9/17/2018 8:23:10 AM)

Incantation

Da Chara

Kangyi has performed on various stages in Singapore, Malaysia and the United States. As a composer, his music are often programmatic and based on personal life and experiences. He also aims to raise public awareness on important historical events. 

Music Scores: http://kangyimusic.storenvy.com
Music Licence: http://www.pond5.com/artist/protestahkang971
Music Services: http://www.kangyizhang.com/freelance.html
SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/kangyi-zhang
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kangyiflute

Crossing the Border - Kangyi Zhang

Kangyi Zhang

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