Malaysian composer CHONG Kee Yong - Newsletter (2009 & 2010)

News:

1.

23 November 2009, Chong Kee Yong was awarded the special prize in the Giga Herzt Awards from ZKM | Institute for Music and Acoustics Karlsruhe. He received a commission and will work on this commission for 2-3 months (2010) as artist-in-resident at ZKM.

The Giga-Hertz-Award addresses composers working in the areas of electronic and acousmatic music. A Grand Prize and four Special Prizes are awarded once a year by an international jury.

The four Special Prizes serve to initiate and support new projects, and are aimed especially at young composers in electronic and acousmatic music.

http://giga-hertz.de
 

2.

7 November 2009, Chong Kee Yong was awarded the prestigious "The Outstanding Young Malaysian Awards" in the Cultural Achievement category (十 大杰出青年奖-文 化成就) by Junior Chamber International Malaysia. (JCIM)

http://www.toym.com.my/

 
3. 

On 12 February 2009 Chong Kee Yong was awarded the prestigious commission grant award jointly by the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation and by the Momenta String Quartet (New York). The grant is the result of Chong's collaboration with Momenta founder violist Stephanie Griffin

Griffin, an accomplished violist who plays with the Argento New Music ensemble, worked with Chong during his ACC Fellowship to New York in 2007 when she performed several of his works at various concerts in New York. Griffin also premiered Chong's Metamorphosis I for Viola and Harp on 17 Dec 07.

The Koussevitzky Music Foundation has commissioned some of the most famous works of the last century, including Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra,Copland's Symphony No. 3 and Britten's Peter Grimes.

 
As part of the award Chong's will compose a work for the Momenta Quartet, and will have the entire set of material documented and housed in the Foundation's music collection in the famous Library of Congress (Washington, USA), including handwritten manuscript, drafts and sketches. The Library is famous for its collection of classic scores such as the original handwritten manuscript of Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra, and Chong will be the first Malaysian to have this honour.

Upcoming concerts for 2009-2010:

5th April 2009, Brussels (Belgium)

"Epitaphe sans mots" (2003)
(Epitaph without words)
For piano trio (Violin, cello & piano)
Dedicated to Jean Paul trio

"Mourning the murder of an old Banyan tree" (2005)
Version for 5 musicians

Dedicated to “Het Collectief” ensemble

Het Collectief ensemble (Belgium) and conductor Ivo Venkov will performed Chong's works in the concert of Ars Musica New Music Festival 2009 (Belgium) on 5th April 2009, 6pm at the concert hall of La Monnaie | De Munt opera house, Brussels (Belgium)

23^rd June 2009, Munich (Germany)

“Unfolding spirit”
For violin and piano

This work is commissioned by TIMF ensemble (Korea), they will world premiere at the ADEvantgarde 09 Festival on 23^rd June 2009 in the Gasteig, Black Box (cultural centre in Munich, Germany)

10th July 2009, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

“Metamorphosis III”
For piano solo
Dedicated to my wife Yong Ka Ling

Chong Kee Yong's piano solo Metamorphosis III will be performed by Swiss pianist Mr. Jürg Henneberger in the “Duo Concert - Dirk Amrein / Jürg Henneberger” at SEGi College Subang Jaya on July 10, 2009, 8pm.

July 2009, Bangkok (Thailand) [23-07-2009]

“Metamorphosis III”
For piano solo
Performed by: Ms Tomoko Honda

Thailand premiere at the Thailand International Composition Festival 2009.

23^rd August 2009, Pennsylvania, USA

"Suspended love" (2003, revised 2005)
For violin & percussion

World premiere by Erik Carlson (violin) and Tomoya Aomori (percussion) on 23rd August 2009 at the Gretna Music festival (Pennsylvania, USA)

5^th September 2009, Brussels (Belgium)

“Unfolding spirit”
For violin and piano

The Belgium premiered by TIMF ensemble (Korea) will take part in the KlaraFestival 2009 (International Brussels Music Festival) on 5th September 2009 8pm at BOZAR, ter Arken. FORZA MUSICA! (Brussels, Belgium)

19^th September 2009, (Seoul, Korea)

“Unfolding spirit”
For violin and piano

The Korea premiered by TIMF ensemble (Korea) will take part in the final concert of Isang Yun International composition prize on 19^th September 2009 8pm at SEOUL art Center concert hall. (Korea)

3^rd & 17^th October 2009, Taipei (Taiwan)

“Wu Yan” (Black flame)
For 6 percussionist
Dedicated to conductor Mr.Bart Bouckaert

Taiwan premiere by the Forum Music Taipei on their 3^rd & 17^th October 2009 concert series.

5^th November 2009, Berlin (Germany)

New work “Yuan Liu”
For Sheng, 2 pianos and 2 percussionists
Dedicated to Wu Wei and Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion

This work is commissioned and will be world premiered by newly formed Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion which founded by internationally renowned soloists for their Concert series "Polarities" at the Japanese German Center Berlin (Germany) on 5th November 2009.

Musicians: Wu Wei, Sheng and Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion

27^th November 2009, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

"Mourning the murder of an old Banyan tree" (2005)
Version for 6 musicians
Dedicated to “Het Collectief” ensemble

Malaysian premiere will be performed by Ensemble Mosaik (Berlin) in the 1^st KL Contemporary Music Festival (Malaysia) on 27^th November 2009

28^th November 2009, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

“Yuan-Fei”
For Dizi (Chinese flute), Oboe, Clarinet, Viola, Cello and Piano

This work is commissioned by 1^st KL Contemporary Music Festival (Malaysia) and for Hong Kong New Music Ensemble. The world premiere will be performed by HKNME on 28^th November 2009 in the 1^st KL Contemporary Music Festival. (Malaysia)

11^th-13^th December 2009, Gouda/Zwolle/Leeuwarden (Holland)

"Time flows" (2007)
For piano solo
Dedicated to Guy Livingston

Pianist Guy Livingston presents --ONE MINUTE MORE--

60 FILMS, 60 COMPOSERS, 60 SECONDS EACH ("One Minute More" DVD released last year on November 2008)

 Concerts in Holland:

11th December 2009 - Gouda - 20h30
12th December 2009 - Zwolle - afternoon
13th December 2009 - Leeuwarden – afternoon

 
26th-29th January 2010, Antwerp/ Sint-Pieterskerk Leut /Gent (Belgium)

 “Yuan He” concerto for 5 Chinese instruments (Sheng, GuZheng, Er-hu, Dizi & Yan Qin) & 5 western instruments (Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello & Piano)
Dedicated to Het Collectief (Belgium) & Dragon Ensemble (China)

HUI LIU – Sound Flowing
Confluence between East & West

... a new music that is neither Western nor Eastern, but embodying the best of both cultures. Let the different traditions intermingle to bring forth a new mainstream that integrates all musical concepts and practices into a vast expanse of musical currents. But let us also make sure that each individual culture will preserve its uniqueness, its own poetry...

"A new music that is neither Western nor traditional, but embodying the best of both cultures. Let the different traditions intermingle to bring forth a new mainstream that will integrate all musical concepts and practices into a vast expanse of musical currents.  But let us also make sure that each individual culture will preserve its own uniqueness, its own poetry." (Wu Wei – sheng & artistic leader Dragon Ensemble)

Composer Chong  Kee Yong is invited to give a lecture on 26^th Jan 2010 at Antwerp conservatory and his new work ‘Yuan He’ will receive it world première on 27^th Jan 2010 at deSingel concert hall (Antwerpen).

Conference and concerts’ schedule:

26 Jan. 2010 09:30-16:30 deSingel Antwerpen, conference day
27 Jan. 2010 20:00 deSingel Antwerpen, concert (world premiere)
28 Jan. 2010 20:15     Sint-Pieterskerk Leut, concert
29 Jan. 2010 13:30-16:00 De Bijloke Gent, workshop improvisation 
29 Jan. 2010 20:00 De Bijloke Gent, concert  

Musicians: Dragon Ensemble (China) and Het Collectief ensemble (Belgium)

30th-31st January 2010, Tel Aviv/Jerusalem (Israel)

“Hidden Eternity”
For 4 hands piano and ensemble
-In memorial György Ligeti-
Dedicated to Jan Michiels, Inge Spinette & Prometheus Ensemble

Israel premiere: by pianists Matan Porat & Amit Dolberg and conductor Zsolt Nagy with the Israel Contemporary Players on 30th January 2010 at Tel Aviv and 31st January 2010 at Jerusalem.

10^th February 2010, Konzerthaus Berlin, Werner-Otto-Saal (Germany)
Time: 20:00

“Yuan-Liu” 源-流
For Sheng, 2 pianos and 2 percussionists (2009)
Dedicated to Wu Wei and Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion

“Real – Irreal”
The 4th concert of the series "Polaritäten, Deutschland – Frankreich – China"

This work is commissioned and world premiered on 5^th November 2009 in the Concert series "Polarities" by newly formed Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion at the Japanese German Center Berlin. (Germany)

Musicians: Wu Wei, Sheng and Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion

23^rd February 2010, The Singapore Airline Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore)
Time: 1pm

Lunchtime concert by the feature composer CHONG Kee Yong

Concert program:

“Temple bell still ringing in my heart” (2003) for viola solo
“Metamorphosis III” for piano solo (2001)
“The thousand ripples of a lonely bell” (2001) for viola solo
“Metamorphosis IV” for 2 musicians & tape (2001)

 Musicians: Yoshiko SATO (Violist) & Nicholas Ong (piano) 

1^st March 2010, Yong Siew Toh conservatory, Recital Studio (Singapore)

Composer Chong Kee Yong is invited to give a Composition Seminar as the Visiting Artist of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory.

6^th March  2010, Bruges.

“Flying colors”
For Guitar quartet

This work is commissioned by Kalès Guitar Quartet (Belgium) for the CD project under SPOKUS Label and world première on 6^th March 2010 in Bruges.

13^th March 2010, Antwerp (Belgium)
Time: 18:00-19:00

New work
For solo violin and tape

This work is commissioned by Belgian violinist Wibert Aerts for his solo recital at the Ars Musica Festival 2010 and will be world premiered on 17^th March 2010 at deSingel concert hall. (Antwerp, Belgium)

15^th April 2010, Jerusalem (Israel)

“Kong Shang” (Hollow Mountain)
For ensemble
Dedicated to Prof. Mark Delaere

Israel premiere will be performed by the Israel Contemporary Players with conductor Zsolt Nagy on 15^th April 2010 at Jerusalem. (Israel)

18^th April 2010, Esplanade Recital Studio, Singapore
Time: 7.30pm,

Chong Kee Yong-Lui Xu Fei for oboe & cello (2001) [Singapore premiere]

Musicians from Conservatory New Music Ensemble

COMMISSIONS (Selected)

June 2010         Double concerto for Elect-violin and percussion (Singaporean violinist Ning Kam                                   and British percussionist Colin Currie)

2010                  New work for cellist Arne Deforce (Belgium) and CRFMW (Centre de Recherches 
                            et  de Formation Musicales de Wallonie, Belgium)

2010                  New work for piano quartet (Pianist Jan Michiels and friends, Belgium)

March 2010       New work for solo violin and tape (Violinist Wibert AERTS, Belgium)

Feb 2010           New work for Guitar quartet (Kalès Guitar Quartet, Belgium)

Jan 2010            New work for Ensemble Dragon (Germany) and Het Collectief (Belgium)

Nov 2009           New work for Sheng, 2 pianos and 2 percussionists (Wu Wei & Ensemble Berlin
                            PianoPercussion, Germany)

Nov 2009           New work for Dizi (Chinese flute), Oboe, Clarinet, Viola, Cello and Piano 
                            (Hong Kong New Music Ensemble)

June 2009         “Unfolding spirit for violin and piano (TIMF ensemble, Korea)

Jan 2008 Symfonie Orkest Vlaaderen (The Symphony Orchestra of Flanders, Belgium)

Shui.Mo for 4 Chinese instruments (Sheng, Pipa, GuZheng & Erhu) and orchestra

Sept 2007 Bayerisher Rundfunk for Musica Viva Festival (Germany)

Horizon's chants for Sheng, Koto and Gayagaeum

May 2007 Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (Malaysia)

Ocean's pluse for 4 Chinese drummers, off stage Dizi and western flute with Chamber orchestra

Feb 2007 Ensemble Modern (Germany)

Splattered landscape II  for large ensemble

Feb 2007 Spiegel Quartet (Belgium)

with financial assistance by the Vlaamse Gemeenschap (The Flemish Community)

3rd String Quartet

Nov 2006 Akademie der Künste, Berlin (Germany)

Endless Whispering for Sheng & 4 western instruments with live electronics

Sept 2006 Prometheus Ensemble (Belgium)

with financial assistance by the Vlaamse Gemeenschap (The Flemish Community)

Hidden Eternity (In memorial of Gyorgy Ligeti) for 4 hands piano & ensemble

May 2006 Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (Malaysia)

Tearless Moon for full orchestra ( in memorial of Geraldine McDonnell)

April 2006 Heidelberg Spring Festival (Germany)

Metamorphosis VII - Voiceless Echo for Clarinet quartet

Nov 2004 Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (Malaysia)

The Starry Night's Ripples for full orchestra

April 2003 Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (Malaysia)

I Hear The Wind Calling for ensemble

Oct 2003 TRANSIT New Music Festival (Belgium)

Kong Shan (Hollow mountain) for 9 musicians

with financial assistance by the Vlaamse Gemeenschap (The Flemish Community)

Just One Minute More
(DVD, Transatlantic Foundation for Music and Art)
- Time Flows (Guy Livingstone, piano)
Pianist and producer Guy Livingston launched his career in 1998 with a best-selling CD called “Don’t Panic”, which premiered sixty new pieces by sixty young composers, each commissioned by Livingston to write one-minute piano pieces. Back for an encore ten years later, Livingston has commissioned sixty new composers from all over the world, including one by Chong titled Time Flows (2007) for Solo Piano. DVD available on Amazon

 
Messiaen/Chong: Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps
(FUG 540 , Fuga Libera 2008)
- Mourning the Murder Of An Old Banyan Tree (2002) (Het Collectief)
The Het Collectief releases a tribute to Olivier Messiaen, pairing the famous quartet of 1941 with Chong's threnody for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello.

 
Traces of Asia - Ensemble Intégrales
(COV 60706, Coviello Contempoarary, Germany 2008)
- Metamorphosis IV for amplified violin/viola, double bass & CD (2001) (Ensemble Integrales)
The Ensemble Integrales interprets Asian compositions of Chong, Mashayeki, Mochizuki, Leilei Tian and more.

 
Violin faces- Wibert Aerts
(Fuga Libera 2008)
- For another better world for violin solo
Wibert Aerts, member of the Belgium new music ensemble Het Collectief who has been collaborating with Chong for a number of years, releases an album of solo violin works including Bach, Berio and Harmann.

Faith, Hope & Chaos, Malaysian Contemporary Music Vol 1
(Hardesh Singh & Ch Loh, Off The Edge February 08)
- Metamorphosis VI - Wind prayer (Nieuw Ensemble)
 - Monodrama for Oboe, ensemble & live electronics (Spektra Ensemble) Chong's music inspired Malaysia's first anthology of contemporary music.

 
Contemporanea 2002
(TauKay 123, Italy)
- Four short laments for X for ensemble (2001) (Interensemble)
Chong's chamber work appears in a programme of works by composers such as Bertona, Giacometti, Tian, Ohmae, Fanticini, Filoseta & Saario.

 
Amy Lin Interprets Contemporary Piano Works
(ABW clasics ABW 1001, Germany)
Metamorphosis III for piano solo (2001) (Amy Lin, piano)
American pianist Amy Lin performs Chong's piano work as part of a programme of contemporary piano music that includes the music of Chow Wen Chung, Zhou Long and Chen Yi.

PRESS NEWS (SELECTED):

1. Seeing the forest for the banyan trees_By CH Loh (OTE CD review)

2. Water Music - examining Chong's Shui.Mo, concerto for four chinese instruments

3. Bach With a Southeast Asian Accent: a review of Argento's concert  

4. Close Encounter with a Musical Wunderkind by Veronica Shunmugam  

5. Review: Chong Kee Yong's Tearless Moon

6. Tears for Souvenirs_By CH Loh (Off the Edge)

7. Man on the moon_By CH Loh (Off the Edge)

8. His friend, the tree, is dead-By Nike Luber (feature on Chong 's concert in Edenkoben)  

9. Broken mirror of time

10. Hidden Eternity-Thea Derks

11. A score by Chong_ By VONG YOKE MAY (NST)

12. The Professional Prizewinner_Saidah Rastam

13. Composing a Malaysian win_By Jason Cheah (The star 05/12/2004)

14. Composing winners-By Jason Cheah (The Star 29/03/2004) 

15. Timeless premiere_By Jason Cheah (The star)

16. From the Kampung to the Conservatoire

17. Interview-Writes Zhang Pei Li (In Chinese, Sin Chew Daily newspaper 2004)

18. Review-Writes Tan Yan Tee (In Chinese, Sin Chew Daily newspaper 08/07/2007)

19. Review-Write JiAn (In Chinese, Nanyang daily newspaper 01/07/2007)

20. Jiao Xiang journal news (Xian conservatory; in Chinese)

21. Sin chew daily-Johor region (in Chinese)

For more information or project proposals please visit or contact:

http://www.chongkeeyong.com