— Quote Source
Rang de Basant by Reena Esmail
n my exploration of Hindustani music, Raag Basant has emerged as a particularly captivating raag. The term 'Basant' translates to 'spring' in Hindi, yet its essence is distinct from the typical Western interpretation of the season. Basant evokes an atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the conventional imagery of chirping birds and soft pastel hues. It is characterized by a darker, more exotic feel, marked by rich, vibrant colors and intricate chromatic progressions.
The composition begins with thick, resonant chords that gradually shift, one note at a time, steering gently into the realm of Basant. This progression leads to a segment from a brief Hindustani piece, known as a bandish, which is adapted for the piano. This adaptation respects the unique sonic capabilities of the instrument. The bandish intensifies, eventually dissipating back into the dense chordal texture, but not without leaving traces of Basant lingering in the finale.
The title of this piece draws inspiration from the famous Hindi movie “Rang De Basanti,” a phrase that means “Color it Saffron.” However, my intention was to infuse the piece not with the color of saffron, but with the rich aesthetic tones of Raag Basant.
Piano Sonata No.1, Op.1 (Brahms, Johannes)
Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 by Robert Schumann.
Yelin Wng (clarinet) & Jinyi Liu
Fantasiestücke for clarinet and piano, Op. 73, were written in 1849 by Robert Schumann. Though they were originally intended for clarinet and piano, Schumann indicated that the clarinet part could also be performed on violin or cello.
Fauré: Dolly Suite for piano four hands -Berceuse
Jinyi Liu & Ice Wang
The Dolly Suite, Op. 56 is a collection of pieces for piano duets by Gabriel Fauré. It consists of six short pieces written or revised between 1893 and 1896 to mark the birthdays and other events in the life of the daughter of the composer's mistress, Emma Bardac.
The suite, consisting of six short pieces, each with its own title: Berceuse, Mi-a-ou, Le jardin de Dolly, Kitty-valse, Tendresse, and Le pas espagnol. The complete suite takes about fifteen minutes to perform.
Repertoire
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata no.8 in C minor, op.13 Pathetique
Piano Sonata no.14 in C sharp minor, op.27 no.2 Moonlight
Piano Sonata No. 23 ("Appassionata"), f
Piano Sonata No. 26 ("Les Adieux"), E♭
Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28
Thirty-two variations on an original theme, c minor WoO 80
Piano Concerto no. 4 in G major op. 58
Liszt
Transcendental Étude No. 10 (Liszt)
Grandes études de Paganini
Hungarian Rhapsody No.6, S.244/6
Schubert, Franz
3 Klavierstücke, D.946
Brahms
Rhapsody Op. 79 No. 1
Piano Sonata Op.1 No.1
Ravel
Piano Concerto in G major
Chopin
Op. 23: Ballade No. 1 in G minor
Étude in C major, Waterfall (1830)
Étude in C♯ minor, Torrent (1832)
Étude in G♭ major, Black Keys (1830)
Étude in C minor, Revolutionary (1831)
Étude in E minor, Wrong Note (1832–1834)
Étude in C♯ minor, Cello (1836)
Op. 48, Two Nocturnes (1840–41):
Nocturne in C minor
Op. 40, Two Polonaises (1838–40)
Polonaise in A major, Military
Op. 28, 24 Preludes:
Prelude in C major (composed 1839)
Op. 31: Scherzo No. 2 in B♭ minor (1836–37)
Op. 39: Scherzo No. 3 in C♯ minor (1839–40)