To the New Millennium
Item
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Score title
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To the New Millennium
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Composer
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Chen Yi
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Program note
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Commissioned by Miami University (Ohio), through Music at Miami for the Millennium Harmonizing Excellence, Hearing Diversity, and funded by a Miami University President's Academic Enrichment Award (1998), TO THE NEW MILLENNIUM is dedicated to and premiered by Audrey Luna and Muri Opatz-Muni and the Chamber Singers and Collegiate Chorale of Miami University, conducted by Prof. William Bausano (with work by Collegiate Chorale director Ethan Sperry), in Oxford, OH on April 14, 2002.
The work consists of three movements: Happy Rain on a Spring Night (for two soloists and mixed choir), Love Seeds (for soprano or mezzo-soprano and chamber choir), and Looking at the Sea (for two soloists and mixed choir, divided into two groups responding to each other), all sung in Chinese.
The text is chosen from three ancient Chinese poems. Their images evoke the welcome rain on a spring night that nurtures the budding seeds, as our new society is pushing us forward to the new century. Our new culture is blooming and flourishing, while we fondly remember our love and glory in the past. The sea keeps running forever, symbolizing the human history that carries us towards the bright future. The poems have timeless subjects and meaningful images.
Chen Yi