Qigang Chen

Qigang Chen (Chinese: 陈其钢, pinyin: Chén Qígāng, pronounced [tʂʰə̌n t͡ɕǐkɑ́ŋ]) is a composer of Chinese origin born in 1951 in Shanghai. He has lived in France since 1984, and obtained French nationality in 1992.

Qigang Chen was born into a family of artists, including several members who were sent to the Laogai during the Cultural Revolution. Chen was sent to an ideological reeducation camp. After the introduction of induction courses for higher education in 1977, Chen passed a series of tests which allowed him to go and study abroad. At the age of 33 he arrived in Paris where he was the final student of Olivier Messiaen until 1988.

Chen received the 2005 Symphony Music Award of SACEM, Paris, and 2006 prize of the Académie Charles Cros.

Chen Qigang was Music Director of 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing^[1]

• 1975-1978: Conductor and composer for the Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra
• 1983-1984: Assistant professor of musical writing at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing
• 1986: First prize (awarded by the French Ministry of Culture) in the International Composition Contest

(Buffet Crampon) for clarinet and string quartet in Paris

• 1987: Sextet "Voyage d'un rêve"commissioned by Radio France
• 1988: Symphonic work "Yuan" commissioned by Radio France

Winner of the 27th International Contest of Symphony Composition of Citta di Trieste

• 1989: Awarded the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Grant
• 1990: State commissioned work for saxophone and 14 instruments: "Feu d'ombres"

Selected "Musician of the Year" by the Chinese press "Poème lyrique II" for 12 musicians commissioned by the Nieuw Ensemble (Holland)

• 1991: State commissioned concerto for flute and orchestra

     Winner of the Hervé Dugardin prize of the SACEM (Society of Composers and Publishers)
*1992: Awarded the Nadia and Lili Boulanger grant
winner of the International Contest of Composition for organ of Saint-Rémy de Provence

Monographic CD by " Musique franoaise aujourd'hui" (REM)

• 1993: " Rêve d'un solitaire" for 29 musicians and electronics

Awarded the Prize Villa Medicis Hors les Murs

• 1994: Jury of the Irino International Composition Contest (Japan) Jury of the Taiwan International Composition Contest
• 1995: "Portrait Qigang Chen" organised by China International Culture Exchange Center at Beijing and Shanghai with the AFAA, the SACEM and the French embassy

Artistic consultant at Radio France for the Festival Présence 1996 Creation of " Extase" for oboe and orchestra commissioned by the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie

• 1996: Creation of Sanxiao for Chinese traditional instruments commissioned by Radio France

Creation of " Un instrument de silence" for guqin and instrumental Ensemble commissioned by the Nieuw Ensemble (Holland)

• 1997: Resident composer and professor at the Centre Acanthes of Avignon
• 1998: President of the jury of the 9th International Composition Contest of Besançon

Creation of "Reflet d'un temps disparu" for violoncello and orchestra by Yoyo Ma, the Orchestre National de France and Charles Dutoit Choreography on "Poème lyrique II" by Michael Mao Dance in New-York

• 1999: Creation of "Wu Xing" for grand orchestra performed by the Orchestre National de France

Creation of "Instants d'un opéra de Pékin" commissioned by the Olivier Messiaen International Piano Competition 2000 Jury of the International Composition Contest at Hong Kong. Artistic consultant at the Cité de la Musique in Paris for the project "La voix du dragon"

• 2000: Awarded Grand Prize of the City of Paris, year 2000

2000-2001.Creation of the four acts ballet «Raise the Red Lantern» from Zhang Yimou: based on Zhang Yimou's film of the same title, premièred by the China National Ballet in May 2001, Beijing. First projection of art film based on Poème Lyrique II in Netherlands. 2001: Wu Xing (The Five Elements) for orchestra owned the finalists award of "Master prize" in UK Creation of " Iris Dévoilée (Iris Unveiled) concerted suite for three female voices, three traditional Chinese instruments and grand orchestra, commissioned by the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, premièred by the Orchestre National de France, Muhai Tang in February 2002 Creation Un temps disparu (Reflections of Vanished Time) for erhu and orchestra, commissioned by the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Canada April 2002. Chen’s monographic concert was organized by The Beijing Musical Festival in which Iris Dévoilée (Iris Unveiled), Un Temps Disparu (Reflections of Vanished Time) for erhu and orchestra, and Wu Xing (The Five Elements) were China premiered by the China Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Muhai Tang. 2003: Creation of L’éloignement, for orchestra,commisioned by Commande du Stuttgart Kammerorchester and premiere on Nov.6 on Shanghai International Arts Festival, China Virgin Classics made Chen’s symphony works album “Iris Devoilee” 2004: Creation of Enchantements oubliés, commissioned by Mr. Kurt Masur, the conductor of Commande de l’Orchestre National de France. Premiere in Paris by French Radio Philharmonic Orchestra on Jan of 2008,conducted by Alan Gilbert. Resident composer at Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra 2004-2005 Creation of Songe d’une femme française, commisstioned by Strasbour Philharmonic Orchestra and Vandoren SAS and premiere on Jun of 2005 by Strasbour Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Muhai Tang.

• 2005: Awarded Grand Prize of Symphonic Music of SACEM

2006 EMI/VIRGIN made Mr.Chen’s new works album “Extase” and awarded “5 Stars Disc”by BBC Music Magazine, “the best modern music albums of 2006”by French 查尔斯. 克罗学院. Awarded as “the best composer of the year” by French magazin “La lettre du musicien”’ as “the best composer of the year chosen by the professors of French high school .

Appointed as the artistic director of “Presence China”’s Chinese Part. Together with Radio France and “Shanghai Spring” music festival propose “Presences China” series at Shanghai,Mr. Chen invited the international composers visit China and compose the feeling about China base on Chinese instruments. 2007-2008 Appointed as the music director for the Opening Ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games

• 2008: Awarded Mercedes-AMG: National Spirit Achievers Prize

       Awarded as the 2008 Honorable Fellow of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
      The song “You and Me” awarded “Five One Programmes” Prize for the spiritual and civilization by the Publicity Ministry of China

2009 Creation of “Er Huang”, commissioned by Carnegie Hall and premiere on Oct in Carnegie Hall. 2010 Awarded Extraordinary Composer Prize of the 7th Chinese Golden Records

Works

• Reflet d'un temps disparu (1996) for cello.
• Wu Xing (1999) orchestral suite on the five elements.
• Iris dévoilée (2001) suite concertante in nine movements signifying different feminine characteristics: simplicity, coyness, wantonness, sentimentality, jealousy, melancholy, hysteria and lust. For three sopranos one of them a Chinese opera soprano, erhu, pipa, guzheng and orchestra. Libretto is drawn from Chinese opera.
• Épouses et concubines (based on Raise the red lantern) (2003) 4 act ballet
• Instants d'un Opéra de Pékin (2000) for solo piano. Created on December 5th and 6th 2000 during the Olivier Messiaen contest in Paris. Revised 2004.

WORKS CATALOGUE

WORK FOR INSTRUMENTALISTS FORMATION

-DANSE (1987) for Oboe and piano Commissioned by the Wind Instruments National Contest (France) Length: 4mn 20s Gerard Billaudot Editeur

CHAMBER MUSIC

-LE SOUVENIR (1985) for flute and harp First audition in June 1986 at the American Church in Paris. Flute: Jean-Marie Bauman; Harp: Sabine Chefson. Length : 11 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-YI (1986) for clarinet Bb and string quartet First prize in the International Composition Contest for Clarinet and String quartet. First audition on July 29th 1986 performed by Alain Acabo and the Ensemble des deux mondes. Length: 13 mn 10 s Gerard Billaudot Editeur CD : in 1993 MFA/REM

-VOYAGE D’UN RÊVE (1987).for flute, harp, percussions and string trio Commissioned by Radio France (1987).Awarded the “Stipendienpreis” in Darmstadt (Germany, 1988).First audition on November 17th 1987 at Radio France by Ensemble Musique Vivante under the conducting of Diégo Masson. Length : 18 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-HUI SHENG (1992) For organ Winner of the International Contest of Composition for organ in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (1992).First audition on September 12th 1993 in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence by Jesus Martin-Moro. Length: 12 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-SAN XIAO (1995) For 4 traditional Chinese instruments( bamboo flute, san xian, zheng,pipa) Commissioned by Radio France. First audition on February 11th 1996 at Radio France in Paris (Festival Présence) by the Beijing Hua Xia Ensemble under the conducting of Tsung Yeh. Length: 11 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur CD : by Huaxia Ensemble, Hugo HRP7174-2

-ENERGIE SPIRALE (1996) For oboe and percussions First audition on November 12th 1996 in Tokyo ( 2nd Link Ongakudo Festival) by Jean-Louis Capezzali (oboe). Length: 5mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-ENERGIE COMTEMPLATIVE (1996) for three flutes Length: 4 mn Unpublished

-INSTANTS D'UN OPERA DE PEKIN (2000) for piano solo Creation on December 5th and 6th 2000 during the Olivier Messiaen contest 2000 in Paris Length: 8 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-L’ELOIGNEMENT (2003) for string orchestra. Nomenclature: 5, 4, 4, 3, 1 or 10, 8, 8, 6, 2 Length:15 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur CD : by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Conductor : Leonard Slatkin. Scheduled at the end of 2005/Virgin Classics

-INSTANTS D'UN OPÉRA DE PÉKIN (New version of 2004) for piano solo Length: 9 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

CONCERTED MUSIC -FEU D’OMBRES (1990) for soprano saxophone and instrumental ensemble. Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and les Grands Travaux du Bicentaire. First audition on February 1st 1991 by Jean-Pierre Baraglioli and the 2E2M Ensemble under the conducting of Paul Méfano for the Festival “Future Musique”. Length: 16 mn 30s Gerard Billaudot Editeur CD : in 1993 MFA/REM

-UN PÉTALE DE LUMIÈRE (1993) (Tribute to Olivier Messiaen) for flute and orchestra Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture. First audition on February 15th 1994 at the Opéra de Rennes by Pierre-Yves Artaud and the Orchestre de Bretagne under the conducting of Claude Schnitzler. Length: about 16 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-EXTASE (1995) for oboe and orchestra Commissioned by the Deutscher Kammerphilharmonie and the French Ministry of Culture. First audition on October 11th 1995 in Bremen (Germany) by Rodrigo Blumenstock and the Deutscher Kammerphiharmonie under the conducting of Thomas Hengelbrock. Length: 17 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-REFLET D’UN TEMPS DISPARU (1995-1996) for violoncello and orchestra Commissioned by Radio France. First audition on April 23rd 1998 at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris by Yoyo Ma and the Orchestre National de France under the conducting of Charles Dutoit. Length: 25 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur CD : Virgin Classics 724354554926

-CONCERTO POUR UN INSTRUMENT DE SILENCE (1996) for Guqin and instrumental ensemble. First audition the April 2d 1996 in Amsterdam, by CHEN Leiji and Nieuw Ensemble under the conducting of Ed Spanjaard. Length : 14 mn Unpublished

-EXTASE II (1997) for oboe and instrumental ensemble First audition on July 11th 1997 in Avignon (Festival Acanthes) by Ernest Rombout and the Nieuw Ensemble (Amsterdam) under the conducting of Ed Spanjaard. Length: 17 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-LA NUIT PROFONDE (2001) First audition on May 27th 2001 in Paris by the Orchestre National de France. Length: 5mn Editions musicales Durand.

-IRIS DEVOILEE (IRIS UNVEILEDN) (2001) concerted suite for grand orchestra, three female voices and three traditional Chinese instruments. Commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation and Radio France. First audition on February 6th 2002 for the Festival Présences of Radio France. Nomenclature : 3 sopranos one of which on the style of Pekin Opera, 3 Chinese traditional instruments (Pipa, Erhu and Zheng) - 3.3.3.3 - 4.3.3.1 - 4 perc, pno(celesta), hp and strings (16.14.12.10.8) Length: 44 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur CD : Virgin Classics 724354554926

-UN TEMPS DISPARU (2002), for erhu (two strings Chinese violon) and orchestra. Commissioned by the Montréal Symphonic Orchestra. erhu: Ma Xianghua. Creation on 23rd and 24th April 2002 in Montréal under the conducting of Charles Dutoit. Length: 25 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-SONGE D’UNE FEMME FRANCAISE (2004- 2005) four soprano, clarinet andt grand orchestra. Commissioned by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg & Vandoren SAS. First audition on 23rd June 2005 in Strasbourg by Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg under the conducting of Muhai Tang. Clarinet : Paul Meyer, Soprano : Sumi Jo. Nomenclature: Soprano colorature, Clarinet solo, 3.3.3.3 - 4.3.3.1 - pno, hp, timpanies, 4 percussions. 16, 14, 12, 10, 8 Length: 30 mn. Gerard Billaudot Editeur -ER HUANG (2009) for piano and orchestra Commissioned by the Carnegie Hall. First audition on Oct 22nd 2009 in New York by Lang Lang and the Juliard Orchestra under the conducting of Michael Thomas Thilson. Length: 15 mn Boosey & Hawkes -EXTASE III (2010, arrangement of EXTASE) for oboe and Chinese traditional instrumental ensemble First audition on Sept 8th 2010 in Paris by Jean-Louis Capezzali and the Singapor Chinese Traditional Orchestra under the conducting of Tsung Yeh. Arrangement by Low Weilun Length: 17 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur -EXTASE IV (2011, arrangement of EXTASE) for oboe and Chinese traditional orchestra First audition on June 2011 in Hong Kong by XXX and the Hong Kong Chinese Traditional Orchestra under the conducting of Yan Huichang. Arrangement by Low Weilun Length: 17 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur -REFLET D’UN TEMPS DISPARU II (2011, arrangement of REFLET D’UN TEMPS DISPARU) for violoncello and Chinese traditional orchestra Commissioned by Hong Kong Chinese Traditional Orchestra. First audition on May 2011 in Hong Kong by XXX and the Hong Kong Chinese Traditional Orchestra under the conducting of Yan Huichang. Arrangement by Low Weilun Length: 25 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

VOCAL MUSIC -POÈME LYRIQUE (1990) for baritone and instrumental ensemble Commissioned by the Domaines de l’Art. First audition on July 7th 1990 in Aix-en-Provence by the 2E2M Ensemble under the conducting of Paul Méfano. Length: 14 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-POÈME LYRIQUE II (1991) for baritone and instrumental ensemble Second version of “Poème lyrique” commissioned by the Nieuw Ensemble (Amsterdam). First audition on 2nd April 1991 in Amsterdam by the Nieuw Ensemble under the conducting of Ed Spanjaard. Length: 12 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-INVISIBLE VOICES (Voix invisibles) (2005) 

for 6 mixte voices and grand orchestra. Commission : Stuttgart City & Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. First audition on the October 27th 2005 in Beijing by the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra under the conducting of Sir Roger Norrington, voices : Stuttgart Neue vocalsolisten Nomenclature: Soprano, Mezzo soprano, Alto, Tenor, Britone, Bass. 3.3.3.3 - 4.3.3.1 - hp, timpanies, 4 percussions players. 16, 14, 12, 10, 8 Length:20 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

SYMPHONIC MUSIC -YUAN (ORIGINS) (1987-1988) for symphonic orchestra Commissioned by Radio France (1988). Winner of the 27th International Contest of Symphony Composition in Trieste (Italy; 1988).First audition on July 5th 1990 at Radio France by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France under the conducting of Yves Prin. Length: 17 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur CD : by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Scheduled at the end of 2005/Virgin Classics

-LUMIÈRES DE GUANG LING (1989) for instrumental ensemble First audition on November 14th 1989 at Radio France by the De Nos Jours Ensemble under the conducting of Jean-Luc Darbellay. Length: 16 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

-WU XING (The Five Elements) (1998-1999) for instrumental ensemble 1 Water (2'03) 2 Wood (1'54) 3 Fire (2'07) 4 Earth (2'13) 5 Metal (2'00) Commissioned by Radio France in 1998. "This commission has raised immediately all my interest, for the proposition done to me coincided wuth a period of personal quest. The challenge pleased me and I took it up as a style exercise, supported bu the pressure of th duration and making it a rule for new pressures to me. Such was the original idea which led me to write five pieces of two minutes each. Before to go further in my process, I undertook to carcterize each piece by one different symbole. From there was born the idea of representating the 5 elements( Wu Xing). Because according to the Yi King, five elements constitute the universe ; this is to say metal, wood, water, fire and earth. In Chinese : Jin, Mu, Shui, Huo, Tu. To carcterize musically a symbol in a extremely short time and to present a tangible material ina abstract language were my lines of strength. But even more, to establish relationships between the materials, so that each element generated the next one as if the last was the consequence of the first." Length : 11 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur CD : Virgin Classics 724354554926

-ENCHANTEMENTS OUBLIÉS (2004) for grand string orchestra, hp, pn, celesta and percussions. Commission : Orchestre National de France. Nomenclature suggesed by Kurt Masur. Nomenclature: Hp, pn (celesta), timpanies, 4 percussions. 16, 14, 12, 10, 8 Length : 19 mn

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND ELECTRONICS -RÊVE D’UN SOLITAIRE (1992-1993) for instrumental ensemble or orchestra and electronic Commissioned by the IRCAM (1992). First audition on April 28th 1993 at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris by the Ensemble InterContemporain under the direction of Mark Foster. Length: 22 mn Gerard Billaudot Editeur

Music for Ballet -RAISE THE RED LANTERN (Epouses et concubines) (2000) First audition on May 2nd 2001 in Beijing by the China National Ballet. Length: 90 mn Editions musicales Durand. CD : September 2005 by EMI Asian

Music for Film -UNDER THE HAWTHORN TREE (2010) A film of ZHANG YIMOU. Length: 110 mn Producer : New Images

Song -YOU AND ME (2008) for man and woman voice Theme song of 29th Olympic games in Beijing 2008 First audition on Aug 8th 2008 in Beijing by LIU Huan and Sarah Brightmann Length: 3 mn

-THEME SONG OF FILM UNDER THE HAWTHORN TREE (2010) for man’s voice Length: 3 mn

-MOTHER AND CHILDHOOD (2011) for man’s voice First audition on Jan 1st 2011 in Putuo by Chang Shilei Length: 5 mn

Music for open air project -the MUSICS for the OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 29TH OLYMPIC GAMES (2008)

publishers

Gérard Billaudot Editeur（from 1985-2007)

14 rue de l'Echiquier 75010 Paris France tel : [phone] fax : [phone]

Web: http://www.billaudot.com Email : [e-mail]

       DURAND ( just for the Ballet Raise the Red Lantans)
       Editions Musicales Durand
       16, rue des fossés Saint-Jacques
       75005 - Paris France
       tel: [phone]
       fax: [phone]

       Web: http://www.durand-salabert-eschig.com

       Boosey & Hawkes Editions (from2008-)

       71-91 ALDWYCH
       London WC2B4HN United Kingdom

       Tel : [phone]

References

1. ^ Beijing Olympics

External links

• Site of the artist
• Interview with Chen Qigang about the cultural revolution and the question of style in Chinese music

Persondata
Name	Chen, Qigang
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1951
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death