Chi Wang is a composer whose diverse education has influenced her music. She has received degrees from Ocean University in China in electronic engineering, as well as University of Oregon in music composition. Her music has been performed all over the world and she has participated in electronic/computer music conferences in Beijing, Portland, New York, Poland, and Taiwan. She is currently an associate professor and the assistant director for the Jacobs School of Music Center for Electronic and Computer Music.
The first piece that I want to highlight of hers is Soul Hermit. This particular piece is for the interactive electronic device called the Leap Motion Controller. She has input specific data that triggers to different sounds in the space above the controller. In this way, various motions of her hands and fingers in different heights above the controller signal for a number of recorded and synthesized soundbites to begin and end. The result is a beautiful soundscape filled with shimmers and layered music. Magical and ethereal are two words that come to mind as I sit, listen, and watch the composer herself “play” the air above the controller.
Soul Hermit
The next piece, Peony Garden is an absolute joy to listen to. I find myself waiting to see which sound she will introduce next, and asking how and if she will alter and morph the sounds that she has already introduced. I love listening to the piece and imagining myself actually in a Peony Garden, surrounded by the serene flowers, the unique insects, the different colors, and sights. Her sense of foreground and background of each soundbite is incredible and creates a sense of story and texture within her new sound world. The piece begins by layering electronic percussive bites on top of each other in the beginning and then later uses the original inspiration (a Chinese opera) to shape the latter half of the piece. The program notes (from the recording, SEAMUS Vol. 28) explaining how she created the piece and what she uses to create each sound can be found in their complete form here.
Peony Garden
Although there aren’t any accounts for me to promote or link to for Chi Wang, she is an incredible composer. Her soundscapes are both thrilling and gorgeous, and set the listener up to be curious about what is next. Contemporary classical electronic music is often about listening for the changes to each sound bite and how the composer will manipulate those sounds, and introduce new sounds. Her transitions through these stages are incredible and she really draws you in and introduces new material at the perfect moments. To follow her music, I suggest becoming familiar with the conferences across the world devoting their resources to contemporary classical electronic and computer music or by following Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music Center for Electronic and Computer Music.
For anyone who may need it:
I do not own any of the videos or music in this blog post or in any of the other posts that you may find in this blog.
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