In April 2023, Universal Edition and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, have entered into a strategic and amicable partnership. Universal Edition (UE), founded in 1901, is a well-known international music publisher, and the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) is the highest music institution in China.
The cooperation between the two sides is based on the publication of digital and printed scores to promote the exchange and dissemination of contemporary Chinese music worldwide. UE presents 15 CCOM composers and their works each year in its catalogue, through the digital tool scodo, and thus presents them to major music institutions and ensembles worldwide through various marketing activities. In addition, UE now presents the individual composers of the CCOM with their profiles and works on its website. This is the first time that UE has set up a dedicated page for a Chinese conservatoire.
At the invitation of the UE board of directors, a delegation of 15 composers and 10 musicians, led by Professor Yu Feng, Director of the CCOM and a renowned conductor, will visit Vienna from 8 to 10 August 2023. During their stay, they will perform a concert of Chinese music together in the Brahms Hall at the Vienna Musikverein. After their stay in Vienna, the Chinese musicians will also participate in the Cremona Festival in Italy and give another concert.
Both concerts, presented by the Chinese musicians, will feature contemporary chamber music works. The first concert in Vienna with the theme Musical Impressions from China will feature works such as Hyacinth by Ye Xiaogang, He Ge (Harmonious song) by Wen Ziyang, Głos for viola solo by Yao Chen, Irregular Perpetuum Mobile by Tang Jianping, Pipa Words for Pipa Solo by Qin Wenchin, Yu Diao for pipa and piano by Dong Liqiang, Six Improvisations – Selected Poems by Wang Shu by Gong Xiaoting, and Sextet-Heaven in the Grotto by Guo Wenjing.
The second concert entitled Suoni dell'Oriente –The Sound from the East (China) will take place on 12 August 2023 at the Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi at the Museo del Violino in Cremona, Italy. Works to be performed include Ripples in Spacetime II by Jia Guoping, For Joy by Hao Weiya, Epic by Dai Bo, Monologue In Snow Night by Tian Tian, Three Preludes for Piano by Zhang Shuai, Canon for Pipa and String Quartet by Chen Xinruo, and The Ring Flying over the Pagoda II (world premiere) by Chang Ping.
The concerts provide an insight into the achievements of the CCOM's Department of Composition. The works represent the contemporary music of Chinese composers today. The works present poetic and imaginative representations of China's ancient culture, geographical features, and folk legends, as well as unique cultural rituals, religions and traditional arts. Although many works contain elements of traditional Chinese music, the composers express their emotions in a way that represents a fusion of Chinese and Western culture, and are deeply concerned with the lives and destinies of present-day humanity, allowing the music to transcend cultural boundaries.
The musicians are also from the CCOM and are outstanding artists in their respective fields. Many of them have studied or played music in the Western world, which has given them a deeper understanding of different musical characteristics.
The collaboration between UE and the CCOM demonstrates the shared vision of both sides for the development of music and reflects UE's foresight. The CCOM is one of the most active music institutions in Asia. Professor Yu Feng, the director of CCOM, has always emphasised that Chinese music should turn towards the world and the future, which is well in line with UE's mission: “We shape the future of music”.
The CCOM attaches great importance to contemporary music as well as its dissemination. In recent years, under the leadership of Director Yu Feng, the CCOM has successfully performed contemporary Chinese music in the USA several times, thereby promoting cultural exchange between contemporary Chinese and Western music in a lasting way. The planned trip to Austria and Italy is an important initiative of the CCOM to create a platform for the dissemination and exchange of music for its teachers and students both in Europe and worldwide.
The International Culture Cooperations association, as the exclusive representative of scodo in China, has made an important contribution to this cooperation project and the TCL Foundation in China is continuously committed to educational and cultural exchange, which means that both institutions strongly support this European tour.
Ancient China shows itself to be in a constant state of change in modern times. The representatives of the Chinese music scene of the CCOM will engage in dialogue with European colleagues and audiences to share their musical thoughts with each other, furthering our common cooperation for music as well as promoting cultural understanding between China and Europe and deepening friendship.