When Spring Comes

Item details

Description +
- Duration: approx. 8 min.
  
  Preface
  
  I started work on When Spring Comes in March 2020. Out of my window at that time, leaves began to sprout, flowers began to bloom, everything began to grow by degrees. That's about spring, heralding a new beginning, peace and serenity, which people's yearning for after a whole winter.
Instrumentation +
- Marimba (5-octave)
About the composer +
- Heng LIU is the principal percussion of the China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, executive director of China Percussion Association, artist of MEINL Percussion, MEINL Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Marimba One, and Remo.
  
  Liu studied percussion from childhood with his father Yaguang LIU, professor of percussion at Xi 'an Conservatory of Music. In 2005, Liu was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music. He studied with professor Gang LIU and professor Biao LI successively and obtained bachelor's and master's degrees. By the time he was 18, Liu had won the first prize in the National Youth Percussion Competition. Liu was a percussion jury of the Italian International Percussion Competition, where he also held master classes and special concerts. He also judges the annual International Network Percussion Competition and National Youth Percussion Competition.
  
  Between 2017 to 2019, Liu embarked on his improvisation and interactive percussion concert "Give me one hour" tour. The tour hit many major Chinese cities including Tianqiao Art Center in Beijing, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Xi 'An concert hall, Shijiazhuang Center for the Performing Arts, etc. Liu performed entirely improvised sets based on interaction with the audience, bringing concertgoers a brand new musical experience. 
  
  So far, Liu has published two albums: Percussion Visionary --Heng LIU Percussion Concert and DRUMS, an original album released by "Hei Chao" Duo with renowned drummer Yanchao LI. He also writes a personal column Heng LIU Said in music weekly.
  
   As a percussionist, Liu has traveled to various music festivals around the world. These include: Italian International Percussion Competition and Festival, Greek International Percussion Competition and Festival, NCPA International Percussion Festival, Beijing International Electronic Music Festival, Beijing Modern Music Festival, Jazz Shanghai Music Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, MIDI Festival and so on.
  
  In the meanwhile, Liu has created more than 30 works, including percussion ensemble piece "The General", "Memory", "Face2Face", percussion and electronic music "Delay", "Percumotion", percussion solo "Rain the Blind Monk", "Wild LEO ", "Poem" and many more. In 2016, his Chinese Traditional Percussion solo piece "Gazing on Mountain TAI" won the 1st prize of China Traditional Music Festival - CCOM ethnic Percussion works collection competition.
  
  In 2019, Heng LIU won "Best Work Awards" and "Best All-round Percussionist" of 2019 Drummmer's Ceremony.
Reviews +
- Review (Percussive Notes, October 2021)
  
  “When Spring Comes” was inspired by the spring view outside the composer’s window. As one might expect, the piece is quite tonal, pleasant, and quickly accessible to the average audience. Technical aspects include rotation strokes (including one-handed grace-note figures), double/quadruple stops, and monophonic lines that require the performer to work out a suitable sticking. There are also several key changes (including six flats and five sharps) and a few 3:2 rhythms.
  
  The piece is reminiscent of the music of Debussy, particularly with its use of “planing” (parallel voice leading). Therefore, the work gives performers a great opportunity to perform original music for marimba in the late 19th/ early 20th-century style. Similar to piano music, the right hand often plays the melody with left-hand accompaniment. The simple opening melody is subject to variations that become more improvisatory and rhapsodic as the piece progresses. Furthermore, the indication “Molto espressivo e rubato” at the beginning of the score leaves all sorts of room for expression. This piece would work well for a junior or senior recital.
  
  —Joseph Van Hassel
Credits +
- Front Cover graphics and layout: Ronni Kot Wenzell
  Photo: NCPA Orchestra
  Engraving: Heng LIU
  Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
  Copyright © Edition SVITZER
  www.editionsvitzer.com

Item details

Related publications