One Symphony with Devin Patrick Hughes

Quynh Nguyen, Pianist of the World

In this episode of One Symphony, conductor Devin Patrick Hughes interviews internationally renowned pianist Quynh Nguyen (pronounced Quin Nwen), exploring her remarkable journey in music. Born in post-war Vietnam, Nguyen's path has been shaped by her family legacy, global influences, and dedication to her craft. From her early beginnings at the Hanoi Conservatory to her studies in Moscow, Paris, and the United States, Nguyen's story exemplifies perseverance and the power of music to transcend boundaries. The interview examines Nguyen's direct connections with French composer Olivier Messiaen and studying with his wife Yvonne Loriod, her respect for Germaine Tailleferre's resilience, and her collaboration with Paul Chihara on his Concerto Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra. Nguyen also explores music’s capability to promote peace between nations in her touching final remarks.
 
Quynh Nguyen has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Vietnam, in venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery, Berlin Konzerthause, and the Opera House in Hanoi, Vietnam. Broadcast appearances include Voice of America, WQXR, WGBH, NHK Television in Japan, Vietnamese national television, and “Grand Piano,” on cable TV channels across the United States. Her discography includes recordings on Arabesque, Naxos’s American Classics Series, and Music and Arts labels.
 
Dr. Nguyen is a graduate of The Juilliard School and Mannes College of Music and received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Graduate Center of City University of New York. She is the recipient of several highly prestigious scholarships and awards, including the United States Presidential Academic Fitness Award, the American Prize, and the Fulbright Fellowship to France.
 
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Quynh Nguyen for sharing her music and spirit. You can find more info at https://www.quynhpiano.com
 
All music selections feature Quynh Nguyen on Piano. The following albums were featured on One Symphony today:
“Fleurs de France: No. 2, Coquelicot de Guyenne” and “Berceuse” composed by Germaine Tailleferre from the album The Flower of France available from Naxos. 
From Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jesus I. No. 15. Le baiser de l'enfant-Jesus ("The kiss of the infant Jesus") composed by Olivier Messiaen from the album Quynh Nguyen: Live in Concert - New York available from Arabesque Records.
Concerto Fantasy, composed by Paul Chihara and featuring Nguyen with the London Symphony Orchestra
“Drinking Songs for Kittens,” “Like Rising Must,”  and “Kleine Toccata…” from the Twice Seven Haiku. 
4 Reveries on Beethoven (2021 Version): No. 2, Pastorale. 
All these selections are available on the album Chihara: Concerto-Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra, Bagetelles, Reveries & Ami on the Naxos label.
 
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
 
https://www.quynhpiano.com
https://www.priceattractions.com/devin-patrick-hughes-conductor
 

Pierre Jalbert: Rethinking Composition

In this episode of One Symphony, conductor Devin Patrick Hughes sits down with renowned composer Pierre Jalbert to explore Jalbert’s musical journey, creative process, and the spiritual influences that shape his work. Jalbert shares intimate stories about his childhood in Vermont, his collaborations with world-class musicians, and the importance of resonance and reverberation in his compositions. He also pays tribute to his mentor, the late Larry Rachleff, and discusses his genre-bending project with the Apollo Chamber Players. Throughout the interview, Jalbert offers insights into the challenges and rewards of writing for both chamber groups and large ensembles and reveals how he strives to create music that serves the audience. Join us for a fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of today's best composers.
Earning widespread notice for his richly colored and superbly crafted scores, Pierre Jalbert’s music has been described as “immediately captures one’s attention with its strong gesture and vitality” by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.  Among his many honors are the Rome Prize, the BBC Masterprize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Fromm Foundation commission.
 
Jalbert’s music has been performed worldwide in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the Barbican.  Recent orchestral performances include those by the Boston Symphony, the National Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. 
 
He has served as Composer-in-Residence with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the California Symphony, and Music in the Loft in Chicago. Select chamber music commissions and performances include those of the Ying, Borromeo, Maia, Enso, Chiara, Escher, Del Sol, and Emerson String Quartets, as well as violinist Midori.  Three new CDs of his music have been recently released:  Violin Concerto, Piano Quintet and Secret Alchemy, and Piano Trio No. 2.
 
Jalbert is Professor of Music at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music in Houston, and he is a co-founder of Musiqa, a Houston-based new music collective.  His music is published by Schott Helicon Music Corporation, New York.
 
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Pierre Jalbert for sharing her music and stories. You can find more info at https://www.pierrejalbert.com.
 
Pierre Jalbert composed all music featured in this episode, with one exception.
 
String Theory was performed live by the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra.
 
Mystical and With Great Energy, from Secret Alchemy, from the album Music From Copland House performed by Curtis Macomber, Danielle Farina, Alexis Pia Gerlach and Michael Boriskin.
 
The first movement from From Dusk to Starry Night “The Night in Silence” on a text by Walt Whitman features Sasha Cooke and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra.
 
Violin Concerto, featuring Steven Copes on violin. Performed by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra with Thomas Zehetmair as the conductor. 
 
“Fiddle Dance” from L’espirit du nord. Performed by the Apollo Chamber Players. 
 
Mozart Piano Concerto K488 in A major, first movement improvised cadenza performed by Robert Levin with the Cluj-Nacopa Philharmonic in Romania with Nicole Moldovenau as the conductor. 
 
“Chanson de Lisette” from Le’spirit du nord. Performed by the Apollo Chamber Players.
 
“Music of air and fire” performed by the Houston Youth Symphony conducted by Michael Isadore.
 
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
 

Juhi Bansal, Composing Cultural Influences

In this episode of One Symphony, Juhi Bansal discusses her diverse cultural influences, from Hindustani classical to Western styles, and how she weaves them together to create powerful narratives through sound. Bansal delves into the inspiration behind several of her striking works, including "Songs From the Deep," "Waves of Change," and "Aurora," which explore themes of women's resilience, environmental conservation, and the beauty of natural phenomena. Bansal also reflects on the role of artists in driving change and her personal growth as a composer over the past 15 years. Join us for an engaging conversation that celebrates the power of music to create narratives that combine spirituality and nature.
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Juhi Bansal for sharing her music and stories. You can find more info at https://juhibansal.com.
Juhi Bansal composed all music featured in this episode.
Songs from the Deep commissioned by the Oregon Mozart Players for the 2022 Sound Investment Commission.
Waves of Change (music, surfing and identity) inspired by the Bangladesh Girls Surf Club in Cox’s Bazaar region of Bangladesh. Performed by Ranjana Ghatak. Featuring Kathryn Shuman singing soprano and Timothy Loo on cello.
Flash, Glimmer, Glow, Spark. Performed by the Dusseldorf Symphony.
Aurora (for SATB chorus). Performed by the LA Choral Lab. Featured soloists are Kathryn Shuman, Molly Pease, Rothan Ramanan, and Zachary Zaret.
Love, Lose, Exile for Soprano, Cello, and Piano. Featuring Abigail Sinclair on soprano, Yu-Hsin Teng on piano, and Evan Kahn on piano.
Wings for Violin, Cello, and Piano. Performed by Pasha Tseitlin on violin, David Meyer on cello, and Nic Gerpe on piano.
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!

Dementia Friendly Concerts with Ralph Patrick

In this episode of One Symphony, host Devin Patrick Hughes sits down with Ralph Patrick, a former pastor and Alzheimer's Association collaborator, to explore the profound impact of music on individuals living with dementia. Patrick shares his personal experiences and insights, discussing how live musical performances can engage, stimulate, and connect with those affected by this challenging disease. Discover the steps musical organizations can take to create dementia-friendly programs and learn about the cognitive benefits of music for individuals with dementia. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion on the transformative power of music and its ability to reach the deeper, inner self beyond cognition.
Ralph Patrick, a former pastor and Alzheimer’s Association collaborator is the son of Jean who died of Alzheimer's in 2012.  Her diagnosis in 2001 led him to join the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.  He has presented hundreds of education classes, as well as providing consultationg services for both caregivers and those living with dementia, and has been a collaborator and presenter with Boulder Symphony creating Sensory Friendly concert series, reaching thousands in Colorado and beyond.  
00:00 Introduction to the Power of Music in Dementia Care
00:14 Early Experiences and Realizations
01:59 The Impact of Music on Dementia: Recorded vs. Live
04:31 Advancements and Community Engagement in Music Therapy
07:08 Orchestras and Ensembles: Engaging with Dementia Programs
09:56 Tailoring Music Programs for Different Stages of Dementia
16:59 The Therapeutic Benefits of Music for Dementia
18:51 The Role of Orchestras in Supporting Dementia Communities
22:10 The Deep Connection Between Music and Memory
23:28 Preventative and Therapeutic Benefits of Music
25:08 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Ralph Patrick for sharing his expertise and stories. You can find more info at https://www.alz.org or https://bouldersymphony.org/outreach/ or linkedin.com/in/ralph-patrick-69734215
Musical selections on this episode today include 
Bach - Air from Orchestral Suite no. 3 in D major BWV 1068 Performed by the Netherlands Bach Society
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Symphony No 5 in E minor op. 64 Sergiu Celibidache conducts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
Mozart Divertimento in D Major, K. 136 "Salzburg Symphony No. 1": II. Andante · Ton Koopman conducts the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra 
The Syncopated Clock · Leroy Anderson, conducted by Leroy Anderson
Shostakovich: Jazz Suite No. 2 - VI. Waltz II Riccardo Chailly conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra 
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 In F, Op. 68 -"Pastoral" – First movement --   Herbert von Karajan  conducts the Berliner Philharmonic 
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
 

Brittany J. Green: Composer of New Frontiers

In this episode of One Symphony, host Devin Patrick Hughes welcomes rising star composer, performer, and educator Brittany Green to discuss her boundary-pushing work and perspective on the future of classical music in the 21st century.
Green, who started out in music education before pivoting to composition in her 20s, brings a multifaceted approach to her practice. Through projects like the Young Composers Project, she blends her interests in composing and teaching, working with K-5 students to collaboratively create music using tools like Max MSP. During the pandemic shutdowns, Green delved further into live electronics and narration as a form of performance, drawing inspiration from artists in the black arts and poetry space to bring fresh aesthetics to her classical compositions.
A major theme in Green's music is the "construction, displacement and rupturing of systems." She sees composers throughout history, from Beethoven onwards, as mold-breakers who redefined expectations. Green explores concepts like building and dismantling rhythmic structures, and cutting through established textures and timbres, to allow new musical ideas to emerge from the breakage and slippage. Pieces like "Against Sharp" express this through incessant repeated notes that slowly erode into legato lines and expanded harmonic material. Intellectually, Green relates this to the ideas of cultural scholars like Bell Hooks and José Muñoz around disrupting systems of domination from the margins.
When it comes to expanding classical music's reach, Green emphasized the importance of authentic community engagement. Through her "community engaged residencies" with orchestras around the country, she aims to have genuine dialogue with communities about their interests and needs, rather than just bestowing a pre-packaged experience upon them. Finding collaborators within communities and among outside artists doing impactful work elsewhere allows for rich cross-pollination of ideas. Regional orchestras especially are well-positioned to connect with local institutions and build meaningful, reverberating programming.
Green sees opportunities to lead audiences to appreciate new musical experiences they "don't know they don't know." While some may assume anything written recently is inaccessibly avant-garde, the reality is new classical music spans a wide range of genres and aesthetics. With creative programming that makes unexpected connections between old and new works, and provides helpful context, orchestras can open listeners' minds and excite their curiosity to discover fresh voices.
Even as artificial intelligence emerges as a tool for music creation, Green believes the most vital qualities of composition will remain the domain of humans. AI may be able to generate music that is theoretically "correct," but it is the element of surprise, of flouting expectations in ways only a human can anticipate, that makes music truly interesting. Moreover, the physically and emotionally resonant experience of making and sharing live music, and literally feeling sound together in community, is not something AI can replicate.
Incorporating interdisciplinary storytelling is another way Green seeks to connect on a deep level. Her piece "Garden On Green Street" features recorded interviews with her mother and aunt musically manipulated to form an intergenerational dialogue with ancestors. The multimedia work "Thresh and Hold" transforms sounds like chains and rocks collected from her family's land into instruments channeling memories of slavery and freedom.
Green's compositions often explore themes of constructing, displacing, and disrupting systems. Drawing inspiration from composers throughout history who defied conventions, she employs techniques like developing and dismantling rhythmic structures, and allowing new musical ideas to emerge from ruptured textures and timbres. Works such as "Against Sharp" exemplify this approach, while engaging with cultural theories around subverting dominant paradigms from the margins. As Green eloquently stated, "I find a lot of excitement in that for me, that unfolds in looking at rhythmic structures that I can build over time and then slowly dismantle or maybe quickly dismantle and completely break and explore what music comes out of that breakage in that slippage of rupture."
 

Dan Visconti, Engaging New Symphonic Audiences

Composer Dan Visconti joins host Devin Patrick Hughes on One Symphony to discuss his innovative approaches to engaging new audiences with classical music. In this in-depth interview, Visconti shares valuable lessons from his wide-ranging collaborations, including projects with incarcerated youth, refugees, and interactive opera productions. He delves into his concept of "civic practice," which involves directly engaging communities in the artistic process to address social issues. Visconti also provides insight into his own boundary-pushing compositions, such as "Low Country Haze" and "Living Language," and the intricacies of cross-genre collaboration. Throughout the conversation, Visconti's deep commitment to expanding the reach and relevance of classical music is evident. He offers thought-provoking perspectives and practical strategies for how orchestras can adapt to the needs and interests of 21st-century audiences. This interview is essential viewing for anyone passionate about the future of classical music and its capacity to inspire positive social change.
00:00 Introduction and Visconti's Early Musical Influences
00:30 The Importance of Play and Discovery in Musical Development
01:47 Visconti's Transition from Violin Performance to Composition
03:30 The Impact of The Beatles and Classical Music on Visconti's Style
04:33 Strategies for Audience Engagement and Defying Conventions
05:02 Visconti's Projects and Experiences in Music and Social Impact
07:39 Harnessing the Power of Music in Civic Practice
08:53 A Case Study: Music Programs for Incarcerated Youth
17:18 The Significance of Music in Community Engagement Efforts
17:34 Designing Interactive Concert Experiences for Modern Audiences
32:43 Balancing Artistic Vision and Practicality in Composition
33:00 "Low Country Haze": A Musical Interpretation of the American Road Trip
38:03 The Dynamics of Collaboration in Music from a Composer's Perspective
42:58 Conclusion: Visconti's Vision for the Future of Music and Collaboration
 
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Dan Visconti for sharing his music and wealth of knowledge.  You can find more info and connect with Dan at https://www.danvisconti.com
Musical selections on this episode today include
Music Box (River Silver)
Fifth House Ensemble
December 1952
Composed by Earle Brown
David Tudor
Deep Listening - Ione
Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster & Panaiotis
Low Country Haze (Version for Chamber Orchestra)
Scharoun Ensemble Berlin
Drift of Rainbows
Humble Pie
Composed by Dan Visconti
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
 

Henry Fogel, Shepherding American Orchestras

On this episode of One Symphony, conductor Devin Patrick Hughes interviews Henry Fogel, a prominent figure in the orchestral music field. Fogel discusses his early life in music, his exciting journey in radio, and his passion for making symphonic music more accessible. They also delve into Fogel's contribution to orchestras as a director and a manager. From his beginnings in a home where Broadway musicals were the high end of musical taste, to his rise as a key figure in the world of orchestral music, Fogel’s insights on board members and anecdotes about conductors provide a unique window into the business side of the symphony orchestra.
Henry Fogel has served as President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, where he significantly impacted the orchestral landscape by supporting and consulting with over 190 orchestras during his tenure. His leadership as President of the Chicago Symphony for 18 years saw substantial growth in the organization's endowment and community engagement efforts. Henry’s extensive career also includes leadership positions at the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C., and the New York Philharmonic. He is actively involved in various nonprofit boards and serves as Chair of the Chicago Classical Music Recording Foundation. Henry’s contributions to the American symphonic landscape have been recognized through honorary doctorate degrees and many awards, including the League of American Orchestras' Gold Baton Award. Beyond his professional achievements, Fogel is an accomplished narrator and producer, sharing his passion for classical music over the radio waves for 5 decades. Henry enjoys spending time with his children, grandchildren, and pursuing his interest in Chinese cuisine.
 
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Henry Fogel for sharing his wealth of wisdom.
Musical selections on this episode today include
 
Mass in B Minor, BWV 232: I. Kyrie: No. 1, Kyrie eleison I (Chorus)[Music Download]
From the album Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
By: The Netherlands Bach Society & Jos van Veldhoven
 
Glagolitic Mass,
From the album Janáček: Glagolitic Mass - Martinů: Field Mass
By: Czech Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Václav Neumann, Josef Veselka, Jan Hora, Gabriela Beňačková, Věra Soukupová, František Livora, Karel Průša
 
Berwald: Symphony No. 4 in E flat major - I. Allegro risoluto[Music Download]
From the album Schubert: Symphony No.4 "Tragic" / Berwald: Symphonies Nos.3 "Singulière" & 4
By: Berliner Philharmoniker and Igor Markevitch
 
Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major, Op. 70: V. Allegretto[Music Download]
From the album Shostakovich: Symphony Nos. 5 & 9
By: Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
 
Corigliano: Symphony No. 1[Music Download]
Symphony No. 1: I. Apologue. Of Rage and Remembrance
By: Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
 
Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 5[Music Download]
Symphony No. 5, Op. 50, FS 97, CNW 29: I. Tempo giusto - Adagio
By: Leonard Bernstein and the Royal Danish Orchestra
https://www.wfmt.com/programs/collectors-corner-with-henry-fogel/
https://devinpatrickhughes.com
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!

Tchaikovsky Revealed with John Suchet

In an in-depth interview, Devin Patrick Hughes speaks with former ITN journalist, ClassicFM host, and biographer John Suchet discusses his transition from journalism to classical music as a career because of his connection to Tchaikovsky's music. He shares his initial love for Tchaikovsky's melodies, developing an understanding of music through learning jazz trombone, and his eventual passion for writing about classical music composers. John touches upon Tchaikovsky's struggle with his identity and homosexuality, and how it influenced his symphonic works. Additionally, he considers the debate about Tchaikovsky's dubious death and the bizarre relationship that Tchaikovsky had with Nadezhda von Meck, his best-known patroness. John believes his approach to understanding music is through the man and not the music, and shares never before heard anecdotes about Tchaikovsky’s relationships with other men. 
00:00 Introduction and Early Life
00:16 Transition into Classical Music
00:34 Tchaikovsky's Early Musical Journey
01:49 Tchaikovsky's Career in Journalism
02:57 Tchaikovsky's Love for Classical Music
03:43 Tchaikovsky's Writing Career
04:13 Tchaikovsky's Love for Other Composers
05:47 Tchaikovsky's Self Doubt
08:13 Tchaikovsky's Struggles with Homosexuality
10:27 Tchaikovsky's Marriage and its Impact
11:57 Tchaikovsky's Influence and Legacy
28:28 Tchaikovsky's Death and its Controversy
38:47 Conclusion: Tchaikovsky's Enduring Impact
As the host of The Classic FM Concert with John Suchet for 12 years, John Suchet is a household voice in classical music and broadcasting. Before his career at Classic FM, John was celebrated as one of the nation's foremost reporters and newscasters. At ITN, he covered pivotal global events such as the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the Philippines Revolution. He has earned accolades including Television Reporter of the Year and Television Newscaster of the Year. In 2008, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Television Society, marking his remarkable career spanning nearly four decades in television news.
John's lifelong passion for classical music, particularly the works of Beethoven, has been a driving force in his life. He authored seven books focusing on the legendary composer, with his latest publication, a special 250th anniversary edition of "Beethoven — The Man Revealed," released in 2020. His dedication to promoting classical music earned him prestigious honors such as an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dundee and an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music. He has also authored books on Verdi, the Strausses, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky, the Man Revealed, which is the subject of today’s discussion.
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to John Suchet for sharing his wealth of knowledge. You can find more info at JohnSuchet.co.uk  and pick up a copy of Tchaikovsky The Man Reveals, and other books by great composers of John’s wherever you get your books. Musical selections on this episode today include Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony by the Berlin Phil, Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony by Vienna Phil and Herbert von Karajan,, Strauss’s Blue Danube Waltz by the Vienna Phil and Willi Boskovsky, Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from Three Suites by Duke Ellington, Tchaikovsky’s First String Quartet by the Emerson String Quartet, and the Nutcracker by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/one-symphony-with-devin-patrick-hughes-_UBbpoivcA3/
https://www.audible.com/pd/One-Symphony-with-Devin-Patrick-Hughes-Podcast/B08K57VY49
 
 
 

Eric Booth: Teaching Artist and the Art of Connection

In this insightful discussion, Devin Patrick Hughes is joined by Eric Booth, a lifelong teaching artist, elaborates on his experiences with teaching artistry and its importance in bridging the gap between classical music and broader audiences. Booth shares his perspective on what constitutes a teaching artist, emphasizing that their role extends beyond teaching a specific art form to activating the creative abilities in others. He also discusses the concept of “entry points,” which allows non-experts to make personally-relevant connections to musical pieces. Booth further explores the notion of open rehearsals, creating room for audience engagement, question-asking and building up appreciation for the technical skills of musicians. Furthermore, Booth touches upon the importance of celebrating mistakes as part of the creative process, fostering growth mindset and nurturing artist expression.
Eric Booth has been honored with The Arts Education Leadership Award from Americans for the Arts, and was named one of the “50 most influential people in the American arts.” After many years as a Broadway and classical actor, successful businessman, and author of The Everyday Work of Art and The Music Teaching Artist’s Bible, he launched his work in teaching artistry in 1979. He launched the teaching artist program at Juilliard, and has taught at Stanford University, NYU, Tanglewood and the Lincoln Center Institute where he now leads the Teaching Artist Development Labs.
He advises El Sistema programs in the U.S. and many countries; and consults with arts organizations, cities, states and national governments on arts learning. He gave the keynote address to UNESCO’s first ever worldwide arts education conference, and is widely called “the father of the teaching artist profession.”
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Eric Booth for sharing his life’s worth and wealth of knowledge. You can find more info at www.teachingartistsmakingchange.com or www.ericbooth.net Musical selections on this episode today include Stravinsky’s Elégie for Viola Solo from the album Boulez Conducts Stravinsky and Deutsche Grammophon. You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
www.ericbooth.net
https://www.soundespressivocompetition.com/judges-panel/devin-patrick-hughes
 
 

Chen Yi: Composer Harmonizing Cultures through Music

Celebrated composer Chen Yi shares her life's journey with host Devin Patrick Hughes. Chen Yi touches upon her roots in China, how classical music came into her life due to her music-loving parents, and the experience of living through the Cultural Revolution. She credits her upbringing and early life experiences for shaping her perspective towards education, community service, and music. Chen Yi moved to Beijing after the Cultural Revolution to study music and was one of 32 selected from 20,000 applicants to study at the Beijing Central Conservatory. She talks about the various musical styles she learned and how they inspired her compositions. The discussion gives an insight into Chen Yi's blend of Western and Chinese musical traditions, drawing from her experiences, culture, and a wide range of musical techniques. Chen Yi also talks about 'Momentum,' one of her favorite works, and how the community and society have inspired her compositional process.
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Chen Yi for sharing her incredible music and wealth of knowledge. You can find her music where ever you listen. Musical selections on this episode today include Momentum and Duo Ye From the album Best of Chen Yi by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Ge Xu: (Antiphony) was from the album The Women’s Philharmonic: The Music Of Chen Yi. Viola Concerto Shian Shi was from Chen Yi: Concertos for String Instruments by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project & Gil Rose. You can always find more info at OneSymphony.org including a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the show. Please feel free to rate, review, or share the show! Until next time, thank you for being part of the music!
00:00 Introduction and Early Life
00:39 Musical Beginnings and Cultural Revolution
02:17 Post-Cultural Revolution and Education in Beijing
02:36 Influence of Chinese Traditional Music
03:28 Experiences in Countryside and Folk Music Influence
04:24 Journey to Western Classical Music
05:06 Language and Music: A Unique Blend
05:39 Career as a Concertmaster and Composer
06:03 Folk Song Collection and Composition
08:03 Moving to the United States and Further Studies
08:16 Residency at the Women's Philharmonic
08:34 Community Engagement and Education Programs
11:39 Career as an Educator
12:40 Discussion on Cultural Revolution and Music
13:22 Influence of Chinese Folk Music Storytelling
17:31 Incorporating Chinese Instrumental Techniques into Western Instruments
20:22 Breaking Barriers and Creating a Unique Musical Language
28:26 Commemorating Major Events and Depicting Rituals in Music
46:42 Bringing Different Worlds Together in Music
50:53 Advice for Young Composers
51:34 Conclusion
https://www.presser.com/chen-yi
https://twitter.com/devinphughes
https://www.muvac.com/en/profile/devin-patrick-hughes