Chamber Compositions

Publications of Kui’s Selected Chamber Works is available for purchase at Amazon and Black Tea Music.

Instrument With Voice

California Shoreline (2017) – for soprano (boy soprano), string quartet and harp (or prepared piano). Duration: 4’00”

Four Image Songs (1989) – for soprano and piano. Duration: ca. 15’00”

  • Performer: Piano, Zhong Li; Soprano, Fangfang Kong
  • December 7, 1989, Grant Concert Hall, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing China (world première)
  • Received First Prize (1 of 2) of the Collegiate Art Song Competition, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing China

Dominican (2020) – for soprano and cello. Duration: ~4’30”

  • Commissioned by WHITE SNAKE PROJECTS
  • Performer: Ensemble of Sing Out Strong
  • Premiere: online performance, Boston, May 13, 2020

Poems On The Way Home (1985) – for tenor and piano. Duration: ca 12’00”

  • Premiered at Concert Hall, Central Conservatory of Music, April, 1985, Beijing, China
  • Performer: Tenor, Tiemin Wang, Piano: Kui Dong

Untill Now (2023) – for soprano and piano. Duration: 8’45”

  • Commissioned by ACMI

Strings

A Night at Tanglewood (2017) – for string quartet, glasses and musicbox

  • Commissioned by Tanglewood Music Center for the 2017 Festival of Contemporary Music
  • Premiered August 11, 2017
  • Performer: The New Fromm Players
  • Performance video available on the Media page

Differences within Oneness (2008–2009) – for string quartet. Duration: ca~ 17’

  • Commissioned by Arditti Quartet and funded by Fromm Foundation Commissioning award, MA (Harvard University)
  • Performer: Arditti Quartet
  • July 2, 2011, Festival of Arditti sponsored by Edenkoben Composer/Scholar Residency with collaboration of SWR radio, Germany (world première)
  • Available on Naxos
  • Composer commentary
  • PURCHASE THE  SCORE AND PARTS

Memory/Place (2016) – for string duet for Nancy Karp Dance Company. Duration: ca ~ 16:30’

  • Commissioned by Nancy Karp Dance Company
  • Premiered February 10, 2018
  • Performer: Kate Stenberg and Gianna Abondolo
  • Digital release available for purchase at Bandcamp
  • PURCHASE PERFORMANCE SCORE

Movement (2020) – for cello and viola. Duration: ca. 5′

Phrase (2021) – for modular strings. Duration: 4 min 30 sec to 9 min’

Shall We Play (2013 revision) – for piano 4 hands, Toy pianos and string quartet. Duration: ca ~ 14’

  • Commissioned by Del Sol quartet and ZOFO Duet
  • Performer: Del Sol Quartet and ZOFO Duet
  • August 16-18, Hirzenberg Festival, Zofingen, Switzerland
  • Available on Naxos
  • Performance video available on the Media page

Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter (2006) – for string quartet and zheng (Chinese horizontal harp), horse head fiddler, dulcimer, sheng, suona and percussion. Duration ca ~ 24′

Percussion or Piano

Dan (1989) – for 2 pianos. Duration: ca.13’00”

  • Commissioned by 1989 National Pianoforte Conference and Festival
  • Performers: Bian Qing and Liu Suesu
  • April 4, 1989 Grand Concert Hall, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China  (world première)

Miniature 5–7 (2003) – for Two Pianos (part of miniature suit). Duration: ~8’

Excerpt from Miniature 5

Scattered Ladder (2009) – for two marimbas and four percussionists. Duration: ca~ 19’

Excerpt from Scattered Ladder, Movement III – Live performance recording from the premiere by SDH, used with permission.

  • Commissioned by Slawerkgroep Den Haag for “Peking Express” new works tour
  • Performer: Slagwerkgroep Den Haag
  • January 15, 2010 Frappé new works premiere program, Korzo Theatre, Den Haag, Holland world première)
  • PURCHASE SCORE

Woodwinds or Mixed

4 Miniatures (2002)– for violin, cello and percussion. Duration: ca 8’

  • Commissioned by the Core Ensemble for “Silken Phoenix Project” with financial support from Florida Collage Arts grant.

Fantasia: A Dialogue With Wind (2003–4) – for piccolo/flute, oboe, bass clarinet/clarinet, violin, viola, cello, contrabass, harp and percussion. Duration: ca 18’

  • Commissioned by the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, for the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation
  • Performer: San Francisco Contemporary Music Players Conductor: David Milnes,
  • November 10, 2004 Celebration of 30 years Gala Concert Yerbe Garen Center, San Francisco

Movements (2004) – for Woodwind quintet, Sheng and percussion (parts of miniatures suit). Duration: ca ~10’

  • Commissioned by Citywinds and Melody of China
  • Performed by Citywinds and Melody of China
  • “East Meets West,” February 18, 2005, First Old Church, San Francisco (world première)

Singing, The Moon Reels, Dancing, The Shadows Stir  (2001) – for mixed ensemble of Chinese and Western classic Instruments. Duration: ca.14’00”

  • Commissioned by Music from China Inc. with financial support from the Mary Cary Flagler Trust, New York
  • Performer: the Ensemble Music from China
  • October 2001, Merkin Hall, New York (world première)

Three Voices (1998) – for Er-hu (Chinese violin), Zheng (Chinese zither) and bamboo flute. Duration: ca 9’

Excerpt from Three Voices

Pangu’s Song (1998) – for alto flute/flute and Percussion. Duration: ca 9’30”

Excerpt from Pangu’s Song

The Blue Melody (1993) – for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano. Duration: ca. 9’00”

Excerpt from The Blue Melody

  • Performer: the Alea III New Music Ensemble
  • November 7, 1994 “Concert for the finalists of Alea III International Competition for Chamber Music Composition”, Conductor: Theodore Antoniou
  • Winner of Alea III International Competition for Chamber Music Composition
  • Released on Pangu’s Song CD, New World Records 80620-2

Xigu (1986) – for Chinese percussion and Bamboo flute. Duration: ca. 12’00”

  • Premiered at Concert Hall, Central Conservatory of Music   “Concert of Winning Works of The National Collegiate Music Award for Chinese Instrument”, August 1986, Beijing China
  • Performer: Bamboo Flute, Tao Chen, Chinese Percussion, Yue Ma
  • Received First Prize of the National Collegiate Music Award for Chinese Instruments, Beijing

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