Shanghai Impressions

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Description +
- Duration. 5½ min.
  
  Shanghai Impressions (上海印象) depicts my observations of this cosmopolitan Chinese megacity over the past two years. Shanghai is a city incorporating various cultures, and developed in traditional and modern styles. Walking along the east and west bunds of Huangpu River, you may feel clear differences in the atmosphere of the two adjoining neighborhoods built in separate eras. The subway and aboveground transport are always packed with residents and visitors.
  
  Shanghai Impressions uses the entire five octaves of the marimba. The pentatonic (Chinese) and diatonic (western) scales in the upper and lower voices are coordinated to reflect the contrasts and similarities to each other. The theme represents the traditional side of China. The middle section represents Chinese drumming, the hustle-bustle streets of Shanghai, the jazz music in hotels, with the bell-sound melody imitating the hour-telling bell nearby the Bund. The coda represents the very delicate Er-Hu melody performed by a random street entertainer.
Instrumentation +
- Marimba (5-octave)
About the composer +
- Dr. Wei-Chen Lin is a respected marimba performer, and chamber, contemporary, and orchestral musician. Born in 1982 in Tainan City, Taiwan, percussionist Wei-Chen is currently based in Shanghai, China. Wei-Chen began to study piano at age of five and percussion at age of twelve. Wei-Chen’s recent marimba repertoire includes music of J.S. Bach, Camille Saint-Saens, Francesco Tárrega, and Lyle Mays. Wei-Chen serves as a percussionist of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. He is currently a member of board committee of Taiwan Percussion Association, and a member of Keyboard Committee of Percussive Arts Society. Wei-Chen currently teaches as an International Percussion Instructor at Dulwich International College in Shanghai.
  
  Wei-Chen won First Prize at the 2008 Classical Marimba League International Marimba Artist Competition, and First Prize at the 2007 PAS International Percussion petition, Other awards include: the Laureate of The First Classical Music International Internet-Festival 2013 in Moscow Russia, the winner of 2013 Taiwan NTCH Young Star Series, Silver Medal of 2012 Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Concerto Competition, Third Prize of 2012 Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Second Prize of the 2007 PASIC Marimba Solo Competition, and the winner of 2007 Boston University Soloists’ Competition. Wei-Chen received the Boston University Honors Award two times in 2008 and 2013. In 2014, Wei-Chen was awarded the lifelong membership of the National Music Honor Society Pi Kappa Lumbda. In 2017, Wei-Chen is awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award of Taipei National University of the Arts.
  
  As an active soloist, Wei-Chen has appeared as concerto soloist with Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (world premiere of "Zalan-Zalan" Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra by Julie Spencer and Gernot Blume), Tainan Symphonic Band (world premiere of "Mask" for two marimbas and symphonic band by Yiu-Kwong Chung), The Concord Band (Marimba Concerto No.1 for marimba and wind band), Houston Symphony (“Fantasy on Japanese Wood Prints, Op.211" by Alan Hovhaness), Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band ("Prism Rhapsody" by Keiko Abe and "Concerto for Marimba and Wind Band" by Dr. Yiu-Kwong Chung), and with Boston University Symphony Orchestra ("Prism Rhapsody" by Keiko Abe). Wei-Chen has given concerts and masterclasses in Taiwan, Australia, Peru, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Russia, and United States.
  
  Wei-Chen was also a jury member of the Taiwan Marimba Competition (2009, 2011), Taipei World Percussion Championship (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), Australian Marimba Competition (2015, 2017), and 2016 Taiwan Percussion Association Youth Percussion Competition.Wei-Chen was a member of Taipei Percussion from 2002 to 2006, performing more than 200 concerts throughout Taiwan and Asia. His orchestral appearances include concerts with the Taiwan Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, ALEA III, Boston Civic Symphony, and The Macao Orchestra. He received a Tanglewood Music Center fellowship in 2008. Wei-Chen has played orchestral under the baton of Long Yu, James Levine, Sir Andrew Davis, Bernard Haitink, Oliver Knussen, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and André Previn. From 2010 to 2011, Wei-Chen served as the first Timpanist of National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra in the Orchestra's 70-year orchestra history.
  
  Wei-Chen received his Bachelor of Arts from National University of Arts. He moved to the United States in 2006. He received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from Boston University. In 2016, Wei-Chen received Artist Diploma as a marimba major at The Boston Conservatory under the guidance of world-famous marimbist Nancy Zeltsman.
Credits +
- Front Cover graphics and layout: Gaia Gomes
  Engraving: Johan Svitzer
  Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
  Copyright © Edition SVITZER
  www.editionsvitzer.com

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