Ba Ban

Chen Yi is celebrated for her music bridge between ancient Chinese folk music and our modern Western compositional styles. In Ba Ban, she reaches back through the centuries for inspiration, creating a challenging concert work for advanced pianists with a distinctive Eastern environment. The basic material for Ba Ban is drawn from the popular Chinese traditional instrumental piece “Ba Ban” and from Chen's own Piano Concerto, which is entirely based on the form, rhythmic organization, and pitch material of the original folk tune.  General impressions of the style of Chinese mountain song singing and Chinese instrumental playing also influence the sounds that are heard in the textures of the piece.