Ba Luan

This piece by the young Chinese composer Jing Zhou is based on different forms of the Chinese popular opera, the Peking opera. It breathes the atmosphere and the spirit of traditional Chinese music and dances. The fast movement of this 'old Chinese popular dance' is only seldom interrupted by moments of calm, which is why images of an ecstatic dance are evoked while listening. The piano part is mostly in two voices; together with the violin, that results in a very lively interplay of the musical sequences. The piece is a brilliant combination of contemporary Chinese music and traditional elements.