Yang Jing and her three accompanying musicians performed for over 60 minutes for an audience of 85 in the intimate Great Hall. The music was performed with delicacy, skill and visible energy and concentration. Both keiki and adults sat mesmerized. We were also extremely fortunate to be able to enjoy the first public performance, a “warm-up”, for the upcoming official World Premiere, of an amazing composition by Dr. Womack, Elements, a set of character pieces based on the ancient Chinese system describing the balance and interaction of elements and phenomena in nature. Opposing forces of fire, water, wood, earth and metal are represented by musical ideas of contrasting character. The piece opens in a blaze of energy, propelled forward by an intense rhythmic drive that eventually builds to an overwhelming heat, before a gentler movement cools the fire with layers of flowing liquid sound. A refreshing breeze winds its way through a forest of trees in the short third movement, followed by the profound and ancient calm of earth. The cold, metallic angularity of the final movement brings the set to a climactic close in a counterbalance of elements. You could have heard a pin drop in the Great Hall during the performance.Visit her website for more information about this virtuoso artist, to purchase amazing CD's and check her touring schedule. |
