Work
Two Soviet Love Songs for Vocalizing Pianist
for piano
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About
Two Soviet Love Songs for Vocalizing Pianist were composed in December 2003. The idiosyncratic mannerisms of performers have long fascinated me. Often I find myself guilty of habits potentially disturbing a performance. The unconscious movements or noises one makes while performing, however, are inevitable and, perhaps, better not to be avoided. They are there for a good reason. It would be unthinkable if Glenn Gould were asked to play without humming or gesticulating. In fact these two pieces were inspired to some extent by watching a video tape of Gould's performance, as well as hearing the composer-pianist Frederic Rzewski performing his piece, The Road. The pieces were originally meant for the private entertainment of accomplished pianists who also like to sing, but, as I played them after their completion, I felt that their theatricality seems to demand an audience.
The two Soviet tunes are something I grew up with. They are still extremely popular in China and often heard in karaoke houses. In Katyusha, besides the tune itself, I also quote Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony (the Scherzo movement) as well as a familiar American show-tune which Shostakovich himself once arranged for orchestra.
Gao Ping, Gao Ping - Chamber Music, NAXOS
Contents note
- Evenings in suburban Moscow
- Katyusha - homage to D. Shostakovich
Performance history
12 Aug 2009: Campus Lunchtime Recital: Gao Ping
Performed by Gao Ping (piano) at the Auditorium of the Banque de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, on the 23rd and 24th November, 2004
Performed by Gao Ping at the Great Hall, Christchurch NZ