Growing in Explorations

By YU LINTAO

Growing in Explorations

By YU LINTAO

Beijing Modern Music Festival aims to spread the spirit of modern music

To the beautiful melody of China’s new generation composer Zou Hang’s latest work2011, the 2011 Beijing Modern Music Festival (BMMF) lowered its curtain on May 27.

“The number of modern classical works performed during the 2011 BMMF was greater than any other music festivals of the same type in the world. And their quality was unprecedented. The 2011 China International Forum on Cultural, Fine Arts and Humanities Education during the festival was also very splendid and led to fascinating debate,” said famous Chinese composer Ye Xiaogang, artistic director of the 2011 BMMF.

Since its start in 2002, the BMMF has presented the world’s modern music masterpiece performances in Beijing every year in May, and invited famous musicians worldwide to discuss and probe the development of modern music and modern music education. It aims to popularize modern music, facilitate cultural communication between China and the world, and provide a good platform for young musicians.

“But today’s success was not achieved overnight,” said Ye.

“When I returned to China after studying music in Europe nine years ago, I thought Beijing should also have a modern music festival, as many big European cities, such as Paris and Vienna, have their own modern music festivals. That was why I proposed establishing a modern music festival in China at that time,” he said.

The festival had a “simple start” because of a lack of funding. But the young festival gained support from musicians and also the Chinese Government. After nine years of development and exploration, the BMMF has increasingly become one of the world’s most remarkable modern music festivals.

“This year, we invited China’s fve leading symphony orchestras to perform during the festival, which was unprecedented,” said Ye. “Normally speaking, a contemporary music festival would often invite one symphony orchestra.”

Presenting classics

The 2011 BMMF kicked off at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing on May 21. The festival comprised exquisite concerts, a competition for young composers worldwide and master classes on campus.

This year’s BMMF presented 17 highclass concerts, including fve symphonic, 10 chamber, an opera and a choral concert, with sideline activities as well.

Four world-class master composers and 14 famous orchestras from home and abroad were invited. Audiences were able to enjoy a wide range of musical genres performed by world-renowned artists from the United States, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Myanmar.

The opening concert, held on May 21, includedTwill by Twilightby Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu,Symphony No.5by Georgian composer Giya Kancheli andSymphony No.3 Chuby Ye, who is also vice president of the Central Conservatory of Music.

TheSymphony No.3Chuwas a blend of Western instruments with traditional Chinese ones. The tenor’s fowing yet powerful voice was echoed by a symphony orchestra, resulting in a perfect musical collaboration.

On May 22, Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti’sAtmospheres, Thailand composer Narong Prangcharoen’sTri-Sattawat, Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski’sMourning Music for String Orchestra, Japanese composer Shinichiro Ikebe’sSymphony No.5and U.S. composer Steven Stucky’sSecond Concerto for Orchestrawere performed by the China Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of famous Chinese conductor Zhang Guoyong at the NCPA, bringing audience a rare auditory treat.

“Bringing these classical musical works to China is to let Chinese music lovers know the height that world modern music has achieved. It will broaden young people’s vision and usher in new music culture of a new time,” said Ye.

Focusing on education

“A modern music festival should not only present contemporary musicians’ masterpieces but also pay attention to the development of modern music and the music’s impact on society,” said Ye.

Paying attention to music education has been a tradition of the BMMF. This year, the 2011 China International Forum on Cultural, Fine Arts and Humanities Education was another major part of the festival.

The forum was divided into three phases held separately at different times this year. The frst phase was held on May 23-25. It discussed issues related to music theories and practices. Guest speakers, such as Shinichiro Ikebe, Steven Stucky, Chinese-American composer Chen Yi and Georgian composer Giya Kancheli, gave speeches on their own music and composition careers.

Many celebrities of Chinese art and culture circles were present at the forum, including theater director Meng Jinghui, composer and writer Liu Suola, publisher Hong Huang and composer Qu Xiaosong. They discussed topics such as the modern music and art, Chinese music and art in the context of globalization.

Qu shared his view on mainstream music. He said he thought now music had entered an age of diversification. Thus mainstream music cannot be limited to Western classical symphonies and classical operas.

The second phase of the forum will be held on October 16 in Beijing featuring a seminar led by Polish composer Karol Szymanowski, an extended part of the festival. The third phase of the forum will include a competition of theses on modern music, and related academic seminars later this year.

Since its establishment, the BMMF has been dedicated to promoting contemporary music, cultivating young composers and holding performances of a great number of modern music works by young composers.

“Many talented young composers lack chances to appear on international music stages. Many outstanding works are unknown, let alone exerting their deserved influence. Therefore, platforms to help talented young composers broaden career roads are very necessary,” said Ye.

In 2010 the BMMF launched the Young Composer Project (YCP), which focused on integrating the comprehensive resource of the music festival and providing necessary financial support to young talent, as well as developing a broader audience market through concerts and the publishing of scores and music books.

The YCP vigorously supports and encourages the development of young composers and provides them with sustainable development platforms to show their talent. The YCP also aims to exert a powerful infuence on this generation’s young composers, to create a good foundation for their professional training and to establish a solid base for their long-term development.

With a high-level, world-class judging panel and an impartial, fair and open selection procedure as well as a completed award mechanism, the YCP has now gained a great reputation. In 2011, 88 music works from countries of all the fve continents applied for the YCP competition.

The 2011 BMMF also called on composers in China to write campus songs for students and provide help for the art education in China’s central and western areas. Up to now, more than 30 songs have been created, and the BMMF will select 12 songs and make an album this year.

The festival has also organized master classes for young composers from all over the world, hoping to provide a chance of close communication among composers worldwide.