This extraordinary edition includes a selection of piano works by Chinese composers from the second half of the 20th century. They are marked by Western influences while also reflecting the multifaceted folk music of China. They range from short character pieces to sonatinas, from simple song arrangements to multi-movement cycles. These works are of medium difficulty and offer a representative cross-section of a musical cosmos that remains largely unknown in Europe. Predominantly pentatonic in character, these works unite the magic of Far Eastern music with the sound of the piano.
We were able to get the well-known pianist Jingxian (“Jane”) Xie from Shanghai to select these compositions, which she herself regularly performs in the concert hall. She not only provided the fingerings, but has also written a preface that offers a general overview of modern Chinese piano music and introductions to each of the individual pieces.