Podcasts · Episode
Chen Yi: Surviving the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Confronting Legacies of Imperialism, and Making Asian-American Music
Program: Power Play
Aired: Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Hosted by Ross Hickman · Karbo
In this episode, Ross and Karbo become familiar with Chen Yi, a Chinese-American composer who lived through the tumultuous Cultural Revolution in China—and kept her love of music alive despite it. With complex relationships with both China and the United States, Chen's life and work negotiate critical intersections of race, gender, culture, and nationality in the worlds of classical music.
Pictured: Composer Chen Yi; by Jack Mitchell/Getty Images.
Episode Notes
Music:
“cdc1” and “cdc2” by Kosta T
“Thinking of My Home” and “Spring Festival” by Chen Yi
Mozart’s Symphony no. 40
“Red Detachment of Women"
“Veris Bellum Sonus” by Silva de Alegria
“National Spark” by Krestovsky
“Night March” by Dee Yan-Key
“Arctic” by Chad Crouch
Other Resources:
“In Her Own Words: Conversations with Composers in the United States" by Jennifer Kelly
“Speak It Louder: Asian-Americans Making Music” by Deborah Wong
“Musicians from a Different Shore: Asians and Asian-Americans in Classical Music” by Mari Yoshihara
“The Echoes of Chinese Exclusion” by Irene Hsu
Playlist
11 pm | |
| Franz Joseph Haydn · Cello Concerto No. 1 in C, Hob.VIIb:1 (ii. Adagio) Kremerata Baltica Marie Elisabeth Hecker, cello Profil 8031 "Cello Fiesta!" | |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · O Isis & Osiris, from "The Magic Flute" Canadian Brass Sony 44545 "Canadian Brass - The Mozart Album" | |
| Ignaz Pleyel · Symphony in A (ii. Andante) Moscow Concertino Profil 07067 "Ignace Joseph Pleyel" | |
12 am | |
| Claude Debussy · Poissons d'or (Golden fishes) from Images, Book 2 Stephen Hough, piano Hyperion 47055 "Debussy - Stephen Hough" | |
| Claude Debussy · Mouvement, from Images, Book 1 Stephen Hough, piano Hyperion 47055 "Debussy - Stephen Hough" | |
| Jacques Ibert · Trio for violin, cello & harp Antoine Bareil, violin; Stephane Tetreault, cello; Valerie Milot, harp Analekta 29888 "Trios for Violin, Cello and Harp" | |
| Francois Devienne · Oboe Sonata No. 1 in G, Op. 71 Mark Weiger, oboe; Arthur Rowe, piano Crystal Records 722 "Mark Weiger - oboe" | |
| Camille Saint-Saens · Suite algerienne Swiss Italian Orchestra Chandos 9837 "Saint-Saens: Suite Algerienne; La Princesse Jeune" | |
1 am | |
| Yosef Hadar · Evening of Roses The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Cellos Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello Decca 002792 002 "Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Inspiration" | |
| Pablo Casals · Song of the Birds The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Cellos Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello Decca 002792 002 "Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Inspiration" | |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Serenade No. 9 in D, K. 320 "Posthorn" Chamber Academy of the Salzburg Mozarteum Philips 422413 "Mozart: Posthorn Serenade" | |
| Maurice Ravel · Menuet antique (transcribed by Ross Snyder) Tesla Quartet Ross Snyder, Michelle Lie, violins; Edwin Kaplan, viola; Serafim Smigelskiy, cello Orchid Classics 100085 "Tesla Quartet - Haydn, Ravel, Stravinsky" | |
2 am | |
| George Frideric Handel · Concerto Grosso in A, Op. 6, No. 11 Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Decca 000994 202 "Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 3 & Op. 6" | |
| Ludwig van Beethoven · String Quartet No. 16 in F, Op. 135 Cuarteto Casals Harmonia Mundi 902400 "Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets, vol. 1" | |
| Jean Francaix · L'Horloge de Flore (The Flower Clock) Philharmonia Orchestra John Anderson, oboe Nimbus 53300 "Strauss, Martinu, Francaix" | |
3 am | |
| Franz Schubert · Cello Sonata in a (Arpeggione Sonata), D.821 Steven Isserlis, cello; Denes Varjon, piano (Erard 1851) Hyperion 68227 "Chopin: Cello Sonata; Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata" | |
| Georg Philipp Telemann · Overture-Suite in D, TWV 55:D1, from "Tafelmusik" Freiburg Baroque Orchestra Harmonia Mundi 902042 "Telemann: The Complete Tafelmusik" | |
| Franz Joseph Haydn · Flute Trio No. 2 in G, Op. 38 Barthold Kuijken, transverse flute; Sigiswald Kuijken, violin; Wieland Kuijken, cello Accent 47807 "Haydn Six Trios Op. 38" | |
4 am | |
| Aaron Copland · El Salon Mexico New York Philharmonic Deutsche Grammophon 459552 "Bernstein: Reaching for the Note" | |
| Johannes Brahms · Serenade No. 2 in A, Op. 16 Scottish Chamber Orchestra Telarc 80522 "Brahms: Serenades No. 1 and No. 2" | |
| Carl Maria von Weber · Horn Concertino in E, Op. 45 Vienna Philharmonic Hermann Baumann, horn Klassic 429299 "Virtuose Hornkonzerte" | |
5 am | |
| Erich Wolfgang Korngold · Overture to Much Ado About Nothing University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchest Toccata Classics 160 "Korngold: Much Ado About Nothing" | |
| Antonin Dvorak · Symphony No. 3 in Eb, Op. 10 Scottish National Orchestra Chandos 8575 "Dvorak: Symphony No. 3" | |
| Marin Marais · The Bells of St. Genevieve Trio Sonnerie Monica Huggett, violin; Sarah Cunningham, viola da gamba; Mitzi Meyerson, harpsichord Harmonia Mundi 907081 "A Portrait of Love" | |
| Benjamin Carr · Federal Overture (1794) Sinfonia Finlandia Naxos 855965 4 "The 18th Century American Overture" | |
6 am | |
| Carl Maria von Weber · Invitation to the Dance (orch. by Berlioz) Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Philips 422050 "With Love From Vienna" | |
| George Frideric Handel · Concerto a due cori No. 2 in F Academy of Ancient Music L'Oiseau-Lyre 455709 "Handel: Water Music; Royal Fireworks" | |
| Richard Strauss · Don Juan, Op. 20 Cleveland Orchestra (rec. March 1961) Sony Classical 63123 "George Szell - Richard Strauss" | |
| Gioacchino Rossini · Overture to William Tell National Academy Orchestra of Santa Cecilia Deutsche Grammophon 471566 "Italian Overtures" | |
| Jerome Moross · Symphony No. 1 (1941-42) (i. Theme and Variations) London Symphony Orchestra Koch International 7188 "Jerome Moross: Symphony No. 1, etc." | |
7 am | |
| Johann Pachelbel · Partita a 4 in f# London Baroque Harmonia Mundi 901539 "Pachelbel: Musique de Chambre" | |
| Igor Stravinsky · Pulcinella Suite Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Telarc 80266 "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; Pulcinella" | |
| Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach · String Symphony in e, Wq.177 English Chamber Orchestra Philips 426081 "C.P.E. Bach: 6 Symphonies" | |
| Felix Mendelssohn · Symphony No. 1 in c, Op. 11 (1st mvt.) Heidelberg Symphony Hänssler Classic 98275 "Mendelssohn: Symphony No 1; String Symphonies No 8 & 13" | |
| Jacques Offenbach · Overture to La vie Parisienne Philharmonia Orchestra Philips 411476 "Offenbach: Overtures" | |
8 am | |
| Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco · Concerto in E, Op. 6, No. 11 Concerto Cologne Teldec 469859 8 "Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco: Concerti" | |
| Johann Strauss, Jr. · Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354 Czecho-Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra Marco Polo 8.2232 32 "Johann Strauss, Jr. Edition - Vol. 32" | |
| Johann Baptist Georg Neruda · Trumpet Concerto in Eb English Chamber Orchestra Ole Edvard Antonsen, trumpet EMI Classics 54897 "Trumpet Concertos" | |
| Arthur Sullivan · Overture to The Mikado Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Philips 434 91 6-2 "Gilbert & Sullivan Overtures" | |
| Domenico Vincenzo Puccini · Piano Concerto in Bb (1st mvt.) Strings of Zurich Hanni Schmid Wyss, piano Gallo 748 "Klavierkonzerte: J. Haydn; D.V.M. Puccini; W.A. Mozart" | |
9 am | |
| Miles Hoffman · A Minute with Miles: Bach Better | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Toccata in D, BWV 912 Changyong Shin, piano Steinway & Sons 30041 "Changyong Shin: Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven" | |
| Pablo de Sarasate · Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs), Op. 20 French National Orchestra Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin EMI Classics 47318 Lalo: Symphonie espagnole" | |
| George Gershwin · Catfish Row, Symphonic Suite from Porgy and Bess Gewandhaus Orchestra Decca 001531 102 "Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue" | |
| Luigi Boccherini · Flute Quintet No. 1 in G, Op. 55, G.431 Auryn Quartet Michael Faust, flute CPO 999382 "Boccherini: Flute Quintets, Op. 55" | |
| Claude Debussy · Golliwog's Cakewalk, from Children's Corner Suite Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Branford Marsalis, soprano saxophone Sony Classical SK 892 51 "Creation" | |
10 am | |
| Ludwig van Beethoven · Rondo in Bb, WoO 6 Capella Istropolitana Stefan Vladar, piano Naxos 8.5501 90 "Beethoven: Piano Concertos No. 1; Rondo" | |
| Camille Saint-Saens · Carnival of the Animals Ensemble Musique Oblique Alice Ader, Denis Pascal, pianos; Isabelle Veyrier, cello Harmonia Mundi 901472 "Camille Saint-Saëns: Carnival des animaux" | |
| Franz Schubert · Rondo in A, D.438 National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa Pinchas Zukerman, violin CBC 5221 "Schubert - Zukerman" | |
| Hector Berlioz · Roman Carnival Overture Denver Symphony Orchestra ProArte 410 "Viva La France" | |
11 am | |
| Leo Delibes · "Flower Duet" from "Lakme" Monte Carlo National Opera Orchestra Joan Sutherland (Lakme), Jane Berbie (Mallika) Decca 458118 "The Greatest Opera Show on Earth" | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Orchestral Suite No. 2 in b, BWV 1067 Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra Wilbert Hazelzet, flute Dhm Deutsche Harmonia 7864 "Bach: Suites (Overtures)" | |
| Johannes Brahms · Hungarian Dances Nos. 1 - 5 Frances Veri, Michael Jamanis, piano 4-hands Prince Productions 9806 "Veri & Jamanis: Brahms Waltzes & Hungarian Dances" | |
| Paul Dukas · Symphony in C (finale) Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Telarc CD-805 15 "Music of Paul Dukas" | |
| Isaac Albeniz · Sevilla, from Suite Espanola, Op. 47 Thibaut Garcia, guitar Erato 557141 "Thibaut Garcia - Leyendas" | |
12 pm | |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Overture to La Clemenza di Tito Zurich Opera Orchestra Teldec 95523 "Mozart: Overtures" | |
| Andre-Ernest-Modeste Gretry · Lucile, opera suite Brittany Symphony Orchestra ASV 1095 "Gretry: Suites & Overtures" | |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 German Chamber Philharmonic, Bremen Martin Frost, basset clarinet BIS 1893 "Mozart: Clarinet Concerto; Kegelstatt Trio" | |
| Ludwig van Beethoven · Variations on "Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen" from Mozart's "The Magic Flute" WoO 46 Jacqueline du Pre, cello; Daniel Barenboim, piano Warner Classics 91934 "Jacqueline Du Pré - Great Recordings" | |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Rondo in Bb, K. 269 Mozart Anniversary Orchestra James Ehnes, violin CBC Sm 5000 5238 "Mozart: Violin Concertos" | |
1 pm | |
| Josef Strauss · Waltz for Marie, Op. 214 Budapest Strauss Symphony Orchestra Marco Polo 822356 1 "Josef Strauss Edition, volume 1" | |
| Karl Jenkins · Palladio London Philharmonic Strings Sony Classical 62276 "Diamond Music" | |
| Antonio Vivaldi · Concerto in d for Viola d'amore, Lute & Strings, RV 540 ensemble Uli Schnorr, viola d'amore; Rolf Lislevand, lute Naive 30429 "Vivaldi: Musica per mandolino e liuto" | |
| Anton Arensky · Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, Op. 35a English Chamber Orchestra Vanguard 72012 "Romantic Serenades" | |
| Leonard Bernstein · Overture to Candide The Boston Pops Orchestra Deutsche Grammophon 001006 002 "The Arthur Fiedler Legacy - Stars and Stripes" | |
2 pm | |
| Felix Mendelssohn · Concerto in E for 2 Pianos & Orchestra RTE Sinfonietta, Dublin Benjamin Frith, Hugh Tinney, pianos Naxos 855341 6 "Mendelssohn: Concertos for Two Pianos" | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Flute Sonata in G, BWV 1038 Raffaele Trevisani, flute; Paola Giradi, piano; Piet Koornhof, violin; Sarah Cunningham, viola da gamba, Phillip Moll, harpsi Delos 3391 "Bach: Trio Sonatas" | |
| Franz Joseph Haydn · Symphony No. 26 in d "Lamentation" Northern Chamber Orchestra Naxos 8.5507 21 "Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 26, 35, 49" | |
3 pm | |
| Maurice Ravel · String Quartet in F (iii. Tres lent) Hagen Quartet Deutsche Grammophon 437836 "Debussy; Ravel; Webern: String Quartets" | |
| Hubert Parry · An English Suite English String Orchestra Nimbus 5366 "Finzi - Parry - Bridge" | |
| Alexander Borodin · Symphony No. 2 in b Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart Hänssler Classic 93116 "Carlos Kleiber & Erich Kleiber Conduct Borodin" | |
| Josef Suk · Filled with Longing Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Orfeo 180891 "Galakonzert aus Prag" | |
4 pm | |
| Tomaso Albinoni · Concerto in C for 2 Oboes, Op. 9, No. 9 Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra Andrea Gullickson, Mark Weiger, oboes Delos 3400 "Oboe Celebrations" | |
| Aaron Copland · Danzon Cubano New World Symphony Argo 439737 "Tangazo - Music of Latin America" | |
| Johannes Brahms · Symphony No. 1 in c, Op. 68 (finale) London Philharmonic Orchestra Warner Classics 935652 1 "Brahms: Symphonies" | |
| Emmanuel Chabrier · Bourree fantasque (orchestrated by Felix Mottl) Orchestra of the Swiss Romande Chandos 5122 "Chabrier: Orchestral Works" | |
| Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach · Cello Concerto in A, Wq. 172 Les Violons du Roy Truls Mørk, cello Virgin Classics 94492 "CPE Bach: Cello Concertos" | |
5 pm | |
| Sergei Rachmaninoff · Symphony No. 2 in e, Op. 27 (finale) Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Telarc 80670 "Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2" | |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Horn Concerto No. 2 in Eb, K. 417 The Hanover Band Pip Eastop, natural horn Hyperion 68097 "Mozart: Horn Concertos; Horn Quintet" | |
| Johann Strauss, Jr. · Emperor Waltz, Op. 437 Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra Marco Polo 8.2232 09 "J. Strauss, Jr.: Edition, vol. 9" | |
| Cesar Franck · Symphony in d (finale) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra RCA Victor Red Seal 60146 "Franck: Symphony; Symphonic Variations" | |
| Victor Herbert · L'Encore Eastman-Dryden Orchestra Kevin Honeycutt, flute; Nathan Williams, clarinet Arabesque 6547 "Victor Herbert: L'encore" | |
6 pm | |
| John Field · Piano Concerto No. 5 in C "The Blazing Storm" Northern Sinfonia Benjamin Frith, piano Naxos 8.5542 21 "Field: Piano Concertos Nos. 5 & 6" | |
| Engelbert Humperdinck · Tanger (A Night in a Moorish Coffee-house), from the Moorish Rhapsody Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Marco Polo 8.2234 69 "Humperdinck: Orchestral Works" | |
| Cecile Chaminade · Concertino, Op. 107 Resident Orchestra of the Hague Sharon Bezaly, flute BIS 1679 "Great Works for Flute & Orchestra" | |
| Antonio Vivaldi · "Spring" Violin Concerto from "The Four Seasons" Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Itzhak Perlman, violin EMI Classics 47319 "Vivaldi: The Four Seasons" | |
9 pm | |
| Ludwig van Beethoven · Piano Trio in Eb, Op. 70, No. 2 Xyrion Trio Nina Tichman, piano; Ida Bieler, violin; Maria Kliegel, cello Naxos 8.5577 23 "Beethoven: Piano Trios - 1" | |
| William Walton · Orb and Sceptre March English Northern Philharmonia Naxos 8.5539 81 "Rule Britannia: Last Night of the Proms" | |
| Leos Janacek · Moravian Dances Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Naxos 8.5503 76 "Slavonic Festival" | |
| Gotthard Odermatt · Summer, Op. 18 Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Albrecht Mayer, oboe Decca 001522 502 "Bonjour Paris" | |
10 pm | |
| Claude Debussy · Arabesque Nos. 1 & 2 Richard Stoltzman, clarinet; Nancy Allen, harp RCA Victor Red Seal 60198 "Romance: Debussy, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Satie" | |
| Alexander Scriabin · Andante Moscow Chamber Orchestra Delos 3244 "Russian Soul" | |
| Leonard Mark Lewis · Lullaby The Bechtler Ensemble Peter DeVries, Kari Giles, Tatiana Karpova, violins; Matthew Darsey, viola; Tanja Bechtler, cello; Tom Hildreth, bass Albany Records 1675 "Reflections on the Firebird" | |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Violin Concerto No. 2 in D, K. 211 (ii. Andante) German Radio Philharmonic Lena Neudauer, violin Hanssler Classic 93316 "Mozart: Violin Concertos" | |
| Leopold Kozeluch · Clarinet Concerto in Eb (ii. Poco adagio) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Emma Johnson, clarinet ASV 763 "Emma Johnson plays Clarinet Concertos" | |
| Luigi Boccherini · Symphony in d, Op. 12, No. 4, G.506 "La casa del diavolo" (ii. Andantino con moto) New Philharmonia Orchestra Philips 438314 "Boccherini: Symphonies, Op. 12 | |
| Gabriel Faure · Pelleas and Melisande suite, Op. 80 (i. Prelude) Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Telarc 80084 "Berlioz: Les Nuits D'Ete - Fauré: Pelleas et Melisande" | |
| Sigmund Romberg · Serenade, from The Student Prince The Hollywood Bowl Pops Orchestra Angel 69053 "An Evening With Sigmund Romberg" | |
| Anton Arensky · Piano Trio No. 1 in d, Op. 32 (iii. Elegia. Adagio) Yefim Bronfman, piano; Cho-Liang Lin, violin; Gary Hoffman, cello Sony Classical 53269 "Tchaikovsky - Arensky: Piano Trios" | |
11 pm | |
| Thomas Tallis · A Solfing Song The King's Noyse Harmonia Mundi 907154 "Tallis: Lamentations, Motets, String Music" | |
| Henry Purcell · Fantasia No. 4 in g, Z. 735 Les Voix humaines ATMA Classique 2591 "Purcell: Fantasias' | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Prelude, from Partita No. 3 (arr. by Marcel Grandjany) Catrin Finch, harp Sony Classical Odysse y SK 873 20 "Catrin Finch - Crossing the Stone" | |
| Franz Benda · Violin Concerto in Eb (ii. Affettuoso ma non troppo. Lento) Suk Chamber Orchestra Ariane Pfister, violin Naxos 8.5539 94 "Benda: Viola & Violin Concertos" | |
| Jacques Offenbach · Overture to Die Rheinnixen (The Nymphs on the Rhine) Les Musiciens du Louvre Archiv Produktion 000823 802 "Offenbach Romantique" | |
| Johannes Brahms · Intermezzo in Eb, Op. 117, No. 1 Lars Vogt, piano EMI Classics 57543 "Brahms: intermezzi & Piano Pieces, Op. 117-119" | |
| Felix Mendelssohn · Symphony No. 3 in a, Op. 56 "Scottish" (iii. Adagio) Philharmonia Orchestra Chandos 10224 "Mendelssohn: Complete Symphonies/Overture: The Hebrides" | |
| Giuseppe Giordani · Caro mio ben Budapest Strings LaserLight 15 673 "Classical Journey, vol. 8 - Italy" | |
| Johann Christian Bach · Flute Concerto in D (ii. Largo) The Hanover Band Lisa Beznosiuk, flute CPO 999538 "J.C. Bach: Symphonie Concertantes, vol. 3" | |
| Antonio Rosetti · Symphony in C (iii. Romanze: Andante gracioso) London Mozart Players Chandos 9567 "Rosetti: Symphonies" | |
| Ludwig van Beethoven · Bagatelle in A, Op. 33, No. 4 Julia Zilberquit, piano Naxos 857023 7 "Three Centuries of Bagatelles" | |