Premiere: May 10, 2025, La Coupole, Saint-Louis
Commissioned and produced: Les Percussions de Strasbourg
Musicians: 4 percussionists
Duration: 15 minutes
Part of the “MINIMAL” program
Chinese composer Yang Song, born in 1987 in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, is associated with the Analyse des Pratiques Musicales team at the University of Cologne (Germany), and attended the IRCAM composition program in Paris. Yang Song’s piece for Les Percussions de Strasbourg offers a fresh take on the traditional songs of her native region, with complex rhythmic work and overlapping harmonies. It completes this look at today’s minimalism, as embraced by composers and ensembles – both newcomers and those with decades of history behind them – all over the world.
“Ombres” is a composition that intricately blends minimalist aesthetics with the essence of Dong folk songs, written for two vibraphones and two marimbas. Dong folk songs represent a unique choral tradition of the Dong ethnic group in China, renowned for their intricate harmonies and repetitive melodies. These songs are characterized by their multi-voice arrangements and layered harmonies, creating a distinctive musical texture that resonates with cultural depth and emotional nuance.
In “Ombres,” the essence of Dong folk music is reimagined through a minimalist lens. The composition employs repetitive melodic patterns and complex harmonic structures to evoke the traditional soundscape while embracing modern simplicity. By combining ancient musical heritage with contemporary artistic forms, the piece offers listeners a novel and captivating musical experience, showcasing an intriguing dialogue between minimalism and tradition.
“Heterometric Patterns” (2023) for 15 musicians in three groups is inspired by the traditional South African singing technique “Umngqokolo.” In this technique, the singer produces both deep tones and overtones simultaneously, essentially singing multiple voices at once. Meanwhile, the piece used various rhythmic patterns, which are layered by different instrumental groups. The whole composition is an attempt to blend old folk music elements with modern sounds. I aim to strike a balance that showcases my own style while also honoring the cultural roots that have inspired me.
Yang Song