Jin Yin Civitas Ensemble

• Zhou Long (b. 1953): 5 Elements:
• 1 5 Elements: No. 1, Metal 11:03
• 2 5 Elements: No. 2, Wood 03:03
• 3 5 Elements: No. 3, Water 04:19
• 4 5 Elements: No. 4, Fire 03:11
• 5 5 Elements: No. 5, Earth 01:39
• Chen Yi (b. 1953):
• 6 Night Thoughts (Version for Civitas Ensemble) 08:37
• 7 Scenes Through Window 16:03
• 8 Birdsong (Arr. for Chamber Ensemble) 09:41
• Yao Chen (b. 1979): Emanations of Tara:
• 9 Emanations of Tara: No. 1, Intro. Gloomy, Brooding 02:01
• 10 Emanations of Tara: No. 2, Green Tara. Expansive, Saturated 04:21
• 11 Emanations of Tara: No. 3, Golden Tara. Glimmering 03:07
• 12 Emanations of Tara: No. 4, Blue Tara. Mysterious, Deepened Emotion 02:39
• 13 Emanations of Tara: No. 5, Red Tara. Extremely Undertoned but with Burning Sensation Inside 02:47
• 14 Emanations of Tara: No. 6, White Tara. Timelessly, Transparently 02:55
• 15 Emanations of Tara: No. 7, Ending. Extremely Quiet 01:10
• Total Runtime 01:16:36

Info for Jin Yin

Chicago’s Civitas Ensemble presents a spectrum of new instrumental works by living Chinese composers, each with a unique perspective on Western and Far Eastern musical sensibilities. Spearheaded by Shanghai-born violinist Yuan-Qing Yu, a Civitas founding member and assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Jin Yin (“Golden Tone”) comprises world-premiere recordings of works by Yao Chen, Vivian Fung, and Lu Pei, plus specially made new arrangements of pieces from Zhou Long and Chen Yi.

First recordings include Yao Chen’s mystical, rhapsodic Emanations of Tara, named for a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism and written expressly for the Civitas Ensemble; Vivian Fung’s Birdsong, a virtuosic piece for violin and piano that opens and closes with evocations of bird calls; and Lu Pei’s alternatively vigorous and lyrical Scenes Through Window, imbued with both American minimalist rhythms and South China folk traditions. Leading off the program, Zhou Long’s engaging Five Elements evokes metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, while Chen Yi’s serene, ethereal Night Thoughts was inspired by a Tang Dynasty poem. Both receive their first recordings in the composers’ own arrangements made specifically for the Civitas Ensemble.

The Civitas Ensemble named their album for the Chinese phrase meaning “Golden Tone” because they treasure these works for their clarity of musical expression.

Civitas Ensemble

Civitas Ensemble
In 2011, four of Chicago’s top musicians — Yuan-Qing Yu, Kenneth Olsen, Winston Choi, and Lawrie Bloom — joined forces to found Civitas Ensemble, a chamber music group dedicated to presenting engaging live performances of new and traditional works, inspiring a young generation of classical musicians, and bringing the healing power of music to those with limited access to live performances.

What make Civitas unique is its artistic excellence, its cross-disciplinary programming, its daring presentation of both old and new works, its connection with living composers, its international reach, and its robust outreach program. Civitas has presented many interdisciplinary programs such as showcasing Ravel and Poulenc’s music with French posters by Lautrec and Chéret, and has commissioned and premiered numerous pieces by living composers. The Ensemble is regularly invited to perform at prestigious venues such as Chicago’s Art Institute, Symphony Center, and WFMT.

As an advocate of music education, Civitas offers free tickets to all current students, free masterclasses to several Chicago Public Schools, and serves as the Ensemble-in-Residence at Valparaiso University in Indiana, where it gives three public chamber music concerts and six coaching sessions annually.

Praised for the quality of its performances, its innovative programming, and its community engagement efforts, Civitas Ensemble was invited to perform with Yo-Yo Ma at the Chicago Humanities Festival and participate in a panel discussion on the topic of “Artist and Citizenship.” Since its inception, Civitas has performed over 40 outreach concerts for hospitals and senior living facilities across Chicagoland and in other major cities while on tour. Civitas receives rave reviews from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Classical Review, and Chicago on the Aisle for its artistic excellence and its devotion to the community.

This album contains no booklet.