DESCRIPTION:
Chen Yi: Prospect Overture for orchestra (2008) (about 9 minutes)

Commissioned by the China National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, the work Prospect Overture for orchestra is premiered by the China National Symphony Orchestra at the 2009 New Year Concerts (12/31/08 and 1/1/09), conducted by Daniel Harding, at the CNCPA. The pitch material in the piece is taken from a Chinese folk tune "Baban," and the structure is based on a kind of Chinese traditional instrumental ensemble music used in ritual ceremony, which features blowing instruments suona (shawn, made with wood) and sheng (free-reed mouth-organ, made with gourd). The music is from slow to fast. The string orchestra provides sheng-like sustained chords in the background while the melodic instruments play in heterophonic style imitating the tunes played by a group of suona players. The music reaches an extremely fast section in a climax, followed by a strong and short coda in unison. The duration is about 9 minutes. It reflects the eternal evolution and challenges of nature, and its analogous relationship to the challenges of the human experience. It also symbolizes the growth and maturation processes of individuals, communities and societies. The music presents the images of conflict, struggle, yearning, encouragement and triumph, to express the composer's hope for the peace in the future of the world.
陈怡：管弦乐《希望序曲》（2008）(约9分钟)

应中国国家大剧院之委约，陈怡的管弦乐曲《希望序曲》由中国国家交响乐团在庆祝2009年元旦音乐会中首演，由著名英国指挥丹尼尔哈丁执棒演出。乐曲沿用中国民间乐曲《八板》之音调素材和吹打乐《水龙吟》之曲体结构，由慢至快地展现了延绵不断地发展着的动势，象征着大自然的永恒的演变与她给人类带来的挑战，亦反映了与此关系相似的人类社会之成长和成熟过程。乐曲表现了激越奋进、勇于迎接挑战与坚忍不拔的音乐形象。作曲家以此寄托其对人类发展和世界和平的希望并与其听众共勉。作曲家以此寄托其对人类发展和世界和平的希望并与其听众共勉，并在庆祝2009元旦之际谨以此曲献给充满活力、直面挑战和永往直前的中国人民。