New Stories Joseph Lulloff & Yu-Lien The

• Dorothy Chang (b. 1970): New Stories for Alto Saxophone and Piano:
• 1 Chang: New Stories for Alto Saxophone and Piano: I. Floating Worlds 05:23
• 2 Chang: New Stories for Alto Saxophone and Piano: II. A Tall Tale Told 04:46
• 3 Chang: New Stories for Alto Saxophone and Piano: III. Reflection 04:49
• 4 Chang: New Stories for Alto Saxophone and Piano: IV. Folksong 04:53
• David Biedenbender (b. 1984): Detroit Steel:
• 5 Biedenbender: Detroit Steel 06:39
• Stacy Garrop (b. 1969): Wrath:
• 6 Garrop: Wrath: I. Menace 06:22
• 7 Garrop: Wrath: II. Shock 06:23
• 8 Garrop: Wrath: III. Amok 03:22
• Carter Pann (b. 1972): Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano:
• 9 Pann: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano: I. This Black Cat 04:49
• 10 Pann: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano: II. Three Songs Without Words: 1. Reverie 03:54
• 11 Pann: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano: II. Three Songs Without Words: 2. Soaring 03:14
• 12 Pann: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano: II. Three Songs Without Words: 3. Consolation 06:09
• 13 Pann: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano: III. Cuppa Joe 01:51
• 14 Pann: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano: IV. Epilogue: Lacrimosa in memory of Joel Hastings 04:39
• Total Runtime 01:07:13

Info for New Stories

Saxophonist Joseph Lulloff and Pianist Yu-Lien The will present the European Premiere of “New Stories” composed by Canadian Composer Dorothy Chang in 2013 for Joseph Lulloff with the support of the Fromm Foundation.

Dorothy Chang writes, “New Stories is a reflection on the various musical influences and experiences I’ve had as a second generation Chinese American who has lived in both North America and Asia. Chinese folk songs, 80’s pop ballads and marching band music are equally a part of my musical identity, as is the influence of composers ranging from Bach, Brahms and Stravinsky to more recent contemporary composers. The four movements that comprise New Stories are personal musical narratives that result when these diverse elements are embraced and woven together in various ways.

The first movement, “Floating Worlds”, begins with two primary musical elements: a very quiet and sustained note in the saxophone and a chain of piano chords moving slowly beneath. The chords are tonally ambiguous and only loosely connected, as if floating independently in a hazy harmonic world. From this opening, the harmonies thicken and gradually become more grounded as the saxophone spins out long, lyrical lines.

The second movement, “A Tall Tale Told”, begins with a simple melody that has a dance-like, scherzo quality. As the movement progresses the melody is repeated, embellished and distorted, eventually building to a peak of unexpected intensity.

The title of the third movement “Reflection”, is a play on two meanings of the word: selfreflection, in that the movement is very still, intimate and contemplative, and reflection as an image or representation, in this case that of traditional Chinese music. The borrowed elements, however, are merely blurred and indistinct shadows of ‘genuine’ Chinese music, being filtered through layers of cultural distance and other influences.

The closing movement, “Folksong” is fast and energetic, bringing together elements from a wide variety of music that have helped to shape and define my own musical voice.” D.C.

Joseph Lulloff, alto saxophone
Yu-Lien The, piano

Joseph Lulloff
enjoys a prolific career as a saxophone artist and teacher. Currently Professor of Saxophone at Michigan State University, Mr. Lulloff has been featured as guest soloist with the Cleveland, Minnesota, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestras, and Brevard Music Center Orchestras amongst others. Mr. Lulloff has concertized extensively throughout North America, Europe, South America and Asia, performing at notable venues such as Weill Recital Hall, Jordan Hall, the Smithsonian Institute, Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall, the Ojai Festival, the Moscow Autumn Festival, the KKL (Kultur- und Kongresszentrum of Luzern, Switzerland), and many other. He has also served as principle saxophonist with Detroit, St. Louis, Minnesota, and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, and currently serves in that role with the Cleveland Orchestra. Lulloff performs with the Capitol and J4 Saxophone Quartets and is on the artist-teaching faculties at the Brevard Music Center and the Great Plains Saxophone Workshop.

Yu-Lien
The has performed throughout the US, Europe and Southeast-Asia, including appearances at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, Zankel Hall at Carnegie, and as a soloist with the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, the Kammerorchester Hannover and the Baroque Orchestra L'Arco. A sought-after chamber musician, she frequently collaborates with saxophonist Joe Lulloff and has been involved in a number of commissions and world premieres. She is a prizewinner of the 12th International Piano Competition Viotti-Valsesia and the Deutsche Musikwettbewerb. Born in the Netherlands, Yu-Lien The obtained piano performance degrees from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover and from the Hochschule für Musik Detmold as well as a D.M.A. from Michigan State University. Her principal piano teachers were Arie Vardi, Anatol Ugorski, Deborah Moriarty and Lori Sims. Dr. The is Assistant Professor of Piano at Western Michigan University and has previously served on the faculties at Bowling Green State University and Valparaiso University.

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