Vivian Fung (1975- )
Vivian
Fung has distinguished herself as a composer with a unique and powerful
compositional voice. Born in Edmonton, Canada, Fung began
composition studies with composer
Violet Archer. Other early influences include her mentors David
Diamond, Narcis Bonet, and Robert Beaser. Since earning her doctorate
from The Juilliard School in 2002, Fung has forged her own approach,
often merging Western forms with non-Western influences such as
Balinese and Javanese gamelan and folk songs from the minority regions
of China. The New York Times has described her work as
"evocative," and Chicago Tribune deems one of her most recent works, Yunnan Folk Songs,
as conveying "a winning rawness that went beyond exoticism." The
premiere by Fulcrum Point New Music Project was chosen by Chicago
Classical Review as one of the top 10 performances of 2011. Fung’s
works have increasingly become part of the core repertoire.
Recognized by the New York Times as "the most memorable part" of the
Ying Quartet’s concert at Weill Recital Hall, Fung’s Pizzicato has been a part of the quartet’s repertory for several seasons. Her Glimpses
for prepared piano has been embraced by a diverse group of pianists,
including Margaret Leng Tan, Conor Hanick, Jenny Lin, Jenny Q Chai,
Bryan Wagorn, and Vicky Chow. Following its world premiere of
Fung’s String Quartet No. 2,
the Shanghai Quartet has included the work on its roster, including
giving the Canadian premiere at the Edmonton Chamber Music Society this
past March. Fung’s works have also been embraced by such ensembles
as Afiara String Quartet, Seattle Symphony, New York Chamber
Symphony, San José Chamber Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra,
American String Quartet, Escher String Quartet, Music from China, and
American Opera Projects. Fung has been composer-in-residence of
the Delaware Chamber Music Festival, the Music in the Loft chamber
music series in Chicago, the San José Chamber Orchestra, and the
Billings Symphony. She has also completed residencies at the
MacDowell, Yaddo, and Banff arts colonies, as well as two residencies
at the Atlantic Center for the Arts. Fung was the 2010 New York
Foundation for the Arts’ Gregory Millard fellow. She has received
numerous awards and grants from ASCAP, BMI, American Music Center,
American Composers’ Forum, The MAP Fund, and the Canada Council for the
Arts.COMPOSITIONS Fung Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Fung on Fung
Rhapsody for Trumpet and Piano (1995)
Flares, chamber orchestra (1996)
Silhouettes, erhu solo (1997)
Blaze, orchestra (1998)
Concertino Notturno for Flute, Harpsichord and Strings (1999)
Night Songs, mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble [fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn, tpt, trom, perc, pf, hp, str qt, db] (1999)
Pizzicato for String Quartet (or String Orchestra) (2001)
Three Love Songs in Chinese for Soprano and Orchestra (2001) [text: Chinese Love Poetry, in Mandarin]
Chanted Rituals, trumpet/flugelhorn and percussion (2002)
Songs of Childhood, voice and piano (2002)
String Quartet No. 1 (2001-03)
- String Sinfonietta, string orchestra (2008) [reworking of String Quartet No. 1]
The Night Singer, mini-opera, soprano, tenor, bass-baritone and piano (2004)
Kecak!, chorus (fp. 2004)
Six Haiku for Baritone and Piano (2004)
Butterfly Variations, string orchestra (2005)
Night Impressions, traditional Chinese instruments [erhu, dizi, pipa, 2 perc] (2005)
Miniatures (4 pieces), clarinet and string quartet (2005)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, shadow puppet production (fp. 31 Oct 2006) [based on Washington Irving's short story]
Glimpses, prepared piano (2006) [in 3 mvts – each may be performed separately]
Recommendation, chorus and 2 percussionists (2008)
Kecak Attack!, chorus (2008)
Billy Collins Suite (3 songs), narrator, clarinet, cello and piano (2008) [songs inspired by his poetry]
Piano Concerto, "Dreamscapes", piano and chamber orchestra (2009)
The Shaman Speaks, clarinet choir (2009)
String Quartet No. 2 (2009)
Sanci Kuni, chorus (2010)
Violin Concerto (2010-11)
Yunnan Folk Songs, mezzo-soprano, baritone, fl, ob, cl, sheng (Chinese reed), hn, 2 perc, str qt (2010-11)
Dust Devils, orchestra (2011)
Kreasi Mekanik Mainan (Mechanical Toys), samara dana gamelan ensemble (2012)
WORKS BY GENRE Fung Links ~ ~ ~ Fung on Fung ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
The Night Singer, mini-opera, soprano, tenor, bass-baritone and piano (2004)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, shadow puppet production (fp. 31 Oct 2006) [based on Washington Irving's short story]
Orchestra
Flares, chamber orchestra (1996)
Blaze, orchestra (1998)
Pizzicato for String Orchestra (2001) [also arr. for string quartet]
Butterfly Variations, string orchestra (2005)
String Sinfonietta, string orchestra (2008) [reworking of String Quartet No. 1]
Dust Devils, orchestra (2011)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Concertino Notturno for Flute, Harpsichord and Strings (1999)
Piano Concerto, "Dreamscapes", piano and chamber orchestra (2009)
Violin Concerto (2010-11)
Choral
Kecak!, chorus (fp. 2004)
Recommendation, chorus and 2 percussionists (2008)
Kecak Attack!, chorus (2008)
Sanci Kuni, chorus (2010)
Chamber
Chanted Rituals, trumpet/flugelhorn and percussion (2002)
The Shaman Speaks, clarinet choir (2009)
Pizzicato for String Quartet (2001) [also arr. for string orchestra]
String Quartet No. 1 (2001-03)
Night Impressions, traditional Chinese instruments [erhu, dizi, pipa, 2 perc] (2005)
- Prayer
- Night Music
- Arioso
- Overture
Miniatures (4 pieces), clarinet and string quartet (2005)
- Floating
- Light and Playful
- Improvisation-like
- A Piacere
Billy Collins Suite (3 songs), narrator, clarinet, cello and piano (2008) [songs inspired by his poetry]
- Insomnia
- Man on the Moon
- The Willies
String Quartet No. 2 (2009)
Kreasi Mekanik Mainan (Mechanical Toys), samara dana gamelan ensemble (2012)
Instrument and Piano
Rhapsody for Trumpet and Piano (1995)
Solo Instrument
Silhouettes, erhu solo (1997)
Piano
Glimpses (3 pieces), prepared piano (2006) [in 3 mvts – each may be performed separately]
- Kotekan
- Snow
- Chant
Vocal
Night Songs, mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble [fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn, tpt, trom, perc, pf, hp, str qt, db] (1999)
- Lullaby
- ???
- ???
- more???
Three Love Songs in Chinese for Soprano and Orchestra (2001) [text: Chinese Love Poetry, in Mandarin]
- Lady Night—Autumn Song
- Rain
- To Like a Dream
Songs of Childhood, voice and piano (2002)
- ???
- Mix a Pancake
- more???
Six Haiku for Baritone and Piano (2004)
Yunnan Folk Songs (7 songs), mezzo-soprano, baritone, fl, ob, cl, sheng (Chinese reed), hn, 2 perc, str qt (2010-11)
- Wushan Mountain Song
- Overture based on Courtship Song
- Pig Herding Song
- Love Song While Planting the Rice Fields
- Rice Pounding Song
- Wedding Lament
- Youth Dance Song
FUNG LINKS Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Fung on Fung ~ top of page ~
Embracing My Banana-ness: One Composer’s Journey Towards Finding Her Identity (Vivian Fung, NewMusicBox)
Composing Collaborations – Between Gamelan and New Music Chamber Ensembles (GetClassical.org/My Voice)
Interview with Composer Vivian Fung: Asian Influences in the Creation of Original Work (CreateCulture.org)
Composer's website . . . contact Vivian Fung: here
Fung @ Twitter
Composer brochure
Fung @ American Music Center
Fung @ Americas Society
Fung @ Answers.com
Fung @ Cedille Records
Fung @ Chamber Music Columbus
Fung @ Chicago Classical Review
Fung @ Classical Archives
Fung @ Classical Net
Fung @ ClassicsToday (via Google Advanced Search)
Fung @ composition:today
Fung @ Create Culture
Fung @ Delaware Chamber Music Festival
Fung @ earsense - chamberbase
Fung @ Facebook
Fung @ The Flea Theater
Fung @ GoKumming
Fung @ John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
Fung @ InstantEncore
Fung @ Knight Arts
Fung @ LinkedIn
Fung @ Metropolis Ensemble
Fung @ Metropolis Test
Fung @ MusicWeb International
Fung @ Naxos
Fung @ The New York Times
Fung @ NYSMF/New York Summer Music Festival
Fung @ ReverbNation
Fung @ San José Chamber Orchestra
Publisher
Fung @ Composer's website
Streaming Audio
Fung @ Composer's website
Fung @ Classical Archives
Fung @ ReverbNation
Fung @ WQXR
Recordings
Fung @ Amazon.com
Fung @ ArkivMusic
Fung @ Cedille Records
Fung @ CD Universe
Fung @ ClassicsOnline
Fung @ DRAM Online
Fung @ Signpost Music
Video
Fung @ YouTube also here
Fung @ Google Video
Fung @ Metropolis Ensemble
Fung @ Vimeo (via Google Advanced Search)
~ top of page ~
Fung on Fung: Composer (VIDEO)
Fung on Fung: On Dreamscapes (VIDEO)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HOME ABOUT RESOURCES COMPOSERS PERFORMANCES 20/21 ENSEMBLE CONTACT US
HOME ABOUT RESOURCES COMPOSERS PERFORMANCES 20/21 ENSEMBLE CONTACT US