Resonate Magazine | Australian Music Centre

Chu Wang-Hua's concerto is a major contribution to the classical saxophone repertoire. He creates a distinctive and profoundly inventive concerto that explores the idiomatic techniques and colours of the saxophone within the Chinese musical style. The folk-song inspired melodies utilise both the brass and woodwind sonic qualities of the instrument, and take advantage of the embouchure bend technique to mimic the types of glissando and ornamentation of traditional Chinese instruments.

Working with Chu Wang-Hua, I was struck by the composer's deep musical sensitivity and originality. During our first run-through together, with Wang-Hua himself accompanying me on the piano, he would describe particular phrases using only subtle hand gestures, or simple yet evocative adjectives that beautifully encapsulated his musical intent. Hearing him perform the Yellow River Concerto in Melbourne has also been a musical highlight of mine, providing tremendous insight into his music and creativity.

I have had the privilege of performing Chu Wang-Hua's Concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra twice. Firstly with the Pro Musica Orchestra here in Melbourne, and then with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra in China. Both concerts were programmed and conducted by John Ferguson, who has been dedicated to researching and performing the music of Chu Wang-Hua for over fifteen years.

To accompany the two performance videos embedded in this article, the program notes below provide insights into the composition and the ideas within it. These were written by John Ferguson in collaboration with the composer:

In this work, the composer has used all the features of the saxophone to express a concerto in a Chinese style. The first movement introduces the work with a plaintive cry filled with pathos. The theme is based on a popular Chinese folk song, 'Lady Meng Jiang', known for its tender and demure core.

The second movement contains more lingering melodies and passions, evoking the good life and the pursuit of love.

The third movement in Rondo form, vivid, active and vibrant. This movement is composed using various styles of dance music, some strongly rhythmical, some gentle and refined, other heroic and stirring, all in celebration of a better life.

This saxophone concerto composition not only carries distinctive Chinese musical style, but also a strong representation of the spirit of the times.

John Ferguson's ongoing PhD research of Chu Wang-Hua's music will increase our understanding of this major composer. It will include recordings and an exegesis of selected works, including some that have not previously been performed, and have been transcribed by John from the original manuscripts. His study examines his use of Western instruments, and compositional techniques, and to what extent he has maintained a Chinese identity within his compositions.

In addition to being a visionary musician, Chu Wang-Hua is a brilliant painter, a deep thinker, and a gentle and positive human. It's a great pleasure to wish him a very happy 80th birthday!

> Chu Wang-Hua - AMC profile