Bright Sheng
Bright Sheng (Chinese: 盛宗亮; pinyin: Shèng Zōngliàng; born December 6, 1955) is a Chinese-born American composer, pianist and conductor. Sheng has earned many honors for his music and compositions, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2001; he also was a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. His music has been commissioned and performed by virtually every major American symphony orchestra, in addition to the Orchestre de Paris, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra among numerous others. His music has been performed by such musicians as the conductors Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Christoph Eschenbach, Charles Dutoit, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, Gerard Schwarz, David Robertson, David Zinman, Neeme Järvi, Robert Spano, Hugh Wolff; the cellists Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, and Alisa Weilerstein; the pianists Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, and Peter Serkin; the violinists Gil Shaham and Cho-Liang Lin; and the percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
Born in Shanghai, he first studied the piano at the age of four with his mother. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory and went on to continue his education at Queens College and Columbia University. In 1995, he became a part of the faculty at the University of Michigan.
Most of Sheng's musical career has followed the path of mixing Western cultures and Asian cultures into his pieces, leading his music to be performed in both Asia and the United States, as well as around the world.
Premieres
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Guessing - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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2 Chinese Bagatelles: No. 1, Yu Diao - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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2 Chinese Bagatelles: No. 2, Small Beijing Gong - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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Song Beneath the Moon - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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Petit Flowers: I. Morningstar Lily - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Petit Flowers: II. Cerise - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Petit Flowers: III. Black Peony - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Petit Flowers: IV. Dot Flower - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Petit Flowers: V. Golden Flower - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Theme & Variations - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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Watching Village Opera - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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4 Tunes from Hainan Island: No. 1, Li Li Mei Tune - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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4 Tunes from Hainan Island: No. 2, Sui Man Tune - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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4 Tunes from Hainan Island: No. 3, Luo Ni Tune - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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4 Tunes from Hainan Island: No. 4, Diao Sheng Tune - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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Five Colors: I. Gong. Peking Opera - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Five Colors: II. Zhi. Snow - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Five Colors: III. Shang. Folk Tune - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Five Colors: IV. Yu. Mist... Dream... Rain... - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Five Colors: V. Jiao. Shaman - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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Ba Ban - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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Ji-Dong-Nuo - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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Pianogongs - One Piano, Two Cultures -
Bright Sheng
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Pianobells - One Piano, Two Cultures -
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24 Préludes, Op. 28: No. 7 in A Major (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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Suite of Eight Dances: VI. Seguidilla - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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Suite for Harp, Op. 270: VI. Presto misterioso - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Concerto for Harp & String Orchestra, Op. 267: III. Allegretto - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996: V. Bourrée (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Fantasia No. 1 in D Major, TWV 33:1 (Excerpt) [Arr. Y. Kondonassis] - Pure Classical: Harp -
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5 Petits préludes intimes: No. 1, Tenderly Emoted - Pure Classical: Harp -
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The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 862 (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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24 Préludes, Op. 28: No. 4 in E Minor (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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24 Préludes, Op. 28: No. 20 in C Minor (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Suite of Eight Dances: VIII. Rumba - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Sonata for Harp & Guitar, Op. 374 "Spirit of Trees": II. Canon. Allegro - Pure Classical: Harp -
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3 Gymnopédies: No. 1 in D Major (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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5 Preludes for Harp Alone: No. 2, Quietude - Pure Classical: Harp -
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3 Gnossiennes: No. 1, Lent (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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3 Gnossiennes: No. 2, Avec étonnement (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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3 Gnossiennes: No. 3, Lent (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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10 Pensées lyriques, Op. 40: No. 5, Berceuse (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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5 Petits préludes intimes: No. 2, Dreamingly - Pure Classical: Harp -
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5 Petits préludes intimes: No. 3, Profoundly Peaceful - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Cantata, BWV 147: X. Choral "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Arr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846 (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996: I. Prelude. Presto (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996: II. Allemande (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996: III. Courante (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996: IV. Sarabande (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996: VI. Gigue (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Cantata, BWV 156: I. Sinfonia (Arioso) [Transcr. Y. Kondonassis] - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Children's Corner, L. 113: 5. The Little Shepherd (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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Préludes, Livre 1, L. 117: No. 8, La fille aux cheveux de lin (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Préludes, Livre 2, L. 123: No. 5, Bruyères (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Valse romantique, L. 71 (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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La bohème, SC 67: Musetta's Waltz (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297 "Winter": II. Largo (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297 "Winter": I. Allegro non molto (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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3 Songs, Op. 7: 1. Après un rêve (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293 "Autumn": II. Adagio molto (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 "Summer": III. Presto (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Greensleeves (Arr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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O Sleep, My Pretty Baby (Arr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996: II. Allemande (Transcr. Y. Kondonassis) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 "Summer": II. Adagio (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Suite of Eight Dances: VII. Tango - Pure Classical: Harp -
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 "Spring": II. Largo (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297 "Winter": III. Allegro (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 "Spring": I. Allegro (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293 "Autumn": III. Allegro (Arr. Y. Kondonassis & R. Werthen) - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Toward the Sea II: I. The Night - Pure Classical: Harp -
Bright Sheng
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Toward the Sea II: III. Cape Cod - Pure Classical: Harp -
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Toward the Sea II: II. Moby Dick - Pure Classical: Harp -
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 1, Mein Jesu, der du mich - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 2, Herzliebster Jesu - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 3, O Welt, ich muß dich lassen - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 4, Herzlich tut mich erfreuen - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 5, Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 6, O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 7, O Gott, du frommer Gott - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 8, Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 9, Herzlich tut mich verlangen - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 10, Herzlich tut mich verlangen - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (Arr. for Orchestra by Virgil Thomson): No. 11, O Welt, ich muß dich lassen - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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Black Swan (After Brahms' Op. 118) - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 (Arr. for Orchestra by Arnold Schoenberg): I. Allegro - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 (Arr. for Orchestra by Arnold Schoenberg): II. Intermezzo. Allegro ma non troppo - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
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Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 (Arr. for Orchestra by Arnold Schoenberg): III. Andante con moto - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
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Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 (Arr. for Orchestra by Arnold Schoenberg): IV. Rondo alla zingarese. Presto - Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations -
Bright Sheng
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