Albany Records: East Meets West

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Jun Qian performs music for clarinet by Chinese composers.

The intersection of Chinese cultural elements with Western art music provides a rich palette of Eastern colors in this first commercial recording of music for clarinet and piano by well-known Chinese composers. The composers on this recording were born in China, but have all studied and worked in the West. Chinese-American clarinetist, Jun Qian, has shared similar experiences with these composers and his performances show a deep understanding of Chinese culture and Western musical ideas. Dr. Qian, now on the faculty at Baylor University is principal clarinet for the Waco Symphony Orchestra. He was a professor of clarinet at St. Olaf College and served as principal clarinet of the Shanghai Philharmonic. Among his many honors, Qian was the featured soloist at the International Performing Arts Festival in Japan in 2004. Qian studied at Baylor University and the Eastman School, where he received his Masters and D.M.A. He is joined on this recording by a former colleague from St. Olaf College, pianist Kent McWilliams who previously taught at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Mei-Chun Chen, composer
Suite Antigua
Jun Qian, clarinet, Kent McWilliams, piano

Bright Sheng, composer
A Tune from Childhood
Jun Qian, clarinet

Bright Sheng, composer
Little Cabbage
Jun Qian, clarinet, Sara Baumbauer, clarinet

Gao Hong, composer
Nostalgia
Jun Qian, clarinet, Gao Hong, pipa, David Carter, cello, Kent McWilliams, piano

Chen Yi, composer
Chinese Ancient Dances
Jun Qian, clarinet, Kent McWilliams, piano

Chen Yi, composer
Monologue: Impressions on The True Story of Ah Q
Jun Qian, clarinet

Shih-Hui Chen, composer
Fantasia on the Theme of Plum Blossom
Jun Qian, clarinet, Kent McWilliams, piano

Ming-Hsiu Yen, composer
The Beam of Light
Jun Qian, clarinet

Ming-Hsiu Yen, composer
Lego City
Jun Qian, clarinet, Francesca Anderegg, violin, David Carter, cello, Kent McWilliams, piano

Review:

“Jun Qian…is a flexible, communicative musician who can evoke a variety of moods with his clarinet. Pianist Kent McWilliams excels both in the songful and the spiky as-pects of this program. …This release shows that we have come far enough in our musi-cal development that no special pleading is necessary for Chinese composers…” (Fanfare)

Jun Qian performs music for clarinet by Chinese composers.

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