Distance Can't Keep Us Two Apart
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Score title
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Distance Can't Keep Us Two Apart
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Composer
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Chen Yi
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Program note
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DISTANCE CAN'T KEEP US TWO APART was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association Endowment in memory of Raymond W. Brook.
In the collegial spirit of this work, it was premiered by seven choirs at ACDA division conferences throughout the country:
Clerestory Vocal Ensemble (San Francisco), at the ACDA North Central Division Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, February 8-11, 2012.
Montclair University Choir, conducted by Heather Buchanan, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, at the ACDA Eastern Division Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, February 15-18, 2012.
Pacific Lutheran University Choir of the West, conducted by Richard Nance, at the ACDA Northwestern Division Conference in Seattle, Washington, March 15-18, 2012.
Festival Singers of Florida, conducted by Kevin Fenton, at the ACDA Southern Division Conference, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, February 29-March 3, 2012.
Arlington Master Chorale, conducted by Randy Jordan, at the ACDA Southwestern Division Conference in Dallas, Texas, February 29-March 3, 2012.
Arizona State University Symphonic Chorale, conducted by Gregory Gentry, March 1, 2012 in the Pioneer Center, at the ACDA Western Division Conference “Singing the Legacy” in Reno, Nevada, February 29-March 3, 2012.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Concert Choir, conducted by Susan Davenport, at the ACDA Central Division Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, March 7-10, 2012.
When I received the invitation from Dr. Tim Sharp, Executive Director of ACDA to write this piece, I was deeply touched by what the ACDA has done in the past half century, to deliver universal love, to unite people from different backgrounds, and to develop our cultural tradition in society through choral singing. I selected two lines from a poem by the Chinese poet Wang Bo (Tang Dynasty) as the text of my piece:
If I have a friend who knows my heart,
Distance can't keep us two apart.
These lines have been popularly used among Chinese people, to share their friendship, love, trust, and encouragement. I was deeply inspired and encouraged by the ACDA's vision towards the 21st century, in improving our education and communication for the new world through our music making and creation. I hope that my music may serve as a bridge to improve understanding between people from all cultures.
Chen Yi