Jian'er Zhu - A Wonder of Naxi (1984)
The orchestration of this piece is so outstanding, especially the haunting 1st and tender 3rd movement. 00:00 1. The Bronze Water Clock. An eerie nocturne. Piercing strings and creeping percussion introduce a mysterious saxophone solo (1:27) 02:24 Passionate, almost drunken, before receding back into the night 04:31 2. Bees Crossing the River. A frantic staccato theme interplays with a grand flowing theme (5:58) 07:04 3. A Heart-to-Heart Between a Mother and Daughter. Imposing chords introduce the mother (cello solo). (7:44) The daughter (violin solo) enters tenderly but worried (8:09 celesta here is so unsettlingly good...) 08:34 Mother and daughter are in discord, playing in separate keys (9:08 celesta again :) ) 09:26 A passionate climax as mother and daughter continue to struggle, before... 10:27 They find peace together in D. A gorgeously tender duet above shining string chords. (11:00) Celesta and harp blissfully end the movement 11:17 4. Dogs Chasing a Deer. Savage horns and drums announce the start of the chase. 11:43 A multitude of polyrhythms and bright timbres (like a Chinese Steve Reich) as the chase begins 12:18 The chase becomes more frenzied and violent (13:12) (13:44) (14:06) 14:36 The wild climax: ripping brass and string glissandos, shrieking woodwinds, and the pounding drive of the drums Composer: Jian'er Zhu (朱践耳 Zhū Jiàn'ěr) (October 18, 1922 – August 15, 2017) Orchestra: Hong Kong Sinfonietta conducted by Tsung Yeh