Credits:

Pierre rBoulez

Description:

Chinese-American composer Bright Shen has long been deeply fascinated by folk music: in the 1970s he became enamored with the folk songs of eastern Tibet, and later studied Chinese folk music traditions systematically at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The "Northern Light" heard on this album uses Scandinavian folk songs, which is also his first work. Inspired by a friend of his who lives in this region, he says he wrote it with a fresh mind. Flute Melody" was inspired by a collection of poems by the ancient Chinese female poet Li Qingzhao. It is a dreamy melody. The "Piano Trio," also with a Chinese melody, "Sweet May Again," dedicated to Edgar Meyer and Emanuel Ax, and "Hot Pepper," based on a Chinese melody about chili peppers, an essential ingredient in Sichuan cuisine, are also full of oriental flavors. Naxos Japan