Theme: Carl Vine & Piano Sonatas

Language: Chinese

Speaker: Dr. Xiaoya Liu (CUHK-Shenzhen)

Host: Prof. Zhuosheng Jin (CUHK-Shenzhen)

Date&Time: Apr. 2, 2025 (Wed.) 19:00

Venue: Lecture Classroom 102, Teaching Building (MUS)

Admission Free.

Visitors are requested to scan the QR code for registration.

Abstract

This lecture focuses on the Australian composer Carl Vine's complete Piano Sonatas, with particular emphasis on the composer's background, compositional techniques, the First Piano Sonata and the Third Piano Sonata.

Carl Vine's works demonstrate astonishing breadth and depth. His compositions span almost every musical genre, and each piece incorporates his unique musical thoughts and innovative concepts. In his works, diverse rhythms are employed to shape the musical characters precisely; themes and motives are ingeniously repeated, enhancing the coherence and logicality of the works; there are significant changes in the registers and dynamics, creating a strong emotional tension; through contrapuntal writing, a richly layered harmonic effect is constructed; polyrhythms and metric modulations, on the other hand, give rise to complex and ever-changing expression. In 2005, Carl Vine was awarded the Don Banks Music Award, the highest accolade in the Australian music industry, which established his prominence in contemporary music.

The First Piano Sonata and the Third Piano Sonata exhibit remarkable stylistic differences. Influenced by the Elliott Carter's Piano Sonata, the First Piano Sonata has a simple structure. The two-movement design, through unique thematic development and rhythmic changes, showcases an emotional progression from mystery to exuberance. Inspired by The Anne Landa Preludes, the Third Piano Sonata features a more complex structure with four movements, each with a distinct style. It opens with a profound and solemn Fantasia, proceeds to a lively Rondo, then moves on to the Variations saturated with philosophical contemplation, and finally wraps up splendidly in a Presto.

With his unique musical style and exquisite compositional techniques, Carl Vine has left a deep mark in the field of modern classical music. His complete Piano Sonatas provide valuable creative inspiration and research material for later musicians, playing an essential role in promoting the innovation and development of modern classical music.

About the Speaker

Dr. Xiaoya LIU currently serves as a Lecturer at the School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, where she was honored with the distinguished Earl V. Moore Award for exceptional achievement. Additionally, she serves as a Voting Member on the prestigious Grammy Awards committee.

LIU's latest albums, The Forgotten released by the historical Centaur Records, and the World Première Recording – Carl Vine Complete Piano Sonatas released by the renowned Dynamic captured rave reviews from the world's top music critics – Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, and International Piano.

An active performer, LIU has captured the imagination of worldwide audiences through her profound artistry, rock-solid technical mastery (Gramophone), and strong performances (BBC Music Magazine) as concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across Asia, Europe, and the United States with orchestras such as the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Round Rock Symphony, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, GSIM Festival Orchestra, Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra, and in venues including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Hill Auditorium, Palazzo Biscari, Shenzhen Concert Hall, Hangzhou Grand Theatre, and Shanghai Concert Hall.

LIU was a top prize winner in the Sicily International Piano Competition, Wideman International Piano Competition, New York International Artists Piano Competition, WPTA Spain International Piano Competition, Paris Music Competition, Global Music Awards, PianoTexas Concerto Competition, and American Prize, among others.

As a recipient of full scholarships from prestigious music festivals worldwide, LIU has worked alongside such artists as Yefim Bronfman, Stephen Hough, Leslie Howard, Pascal Rogé, Paul Schoenfeld, Melvyn Tan, and conductors Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Kenneth Kiesler, and Octavio Más-Arocas.

LIU earned her D.M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan. She holds two Master's degrees (Piano Performance, and Piano Chamber Music, respectively) from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan, where she served as the Graduate Student Instructor in Piano. She attained her Bachelor's (Honours) degree in Piano Performance from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music – National University of Singapore. Her primary mentors have included Christopher Harding, Natalya Antonova, Enrico Elisi, and Thomas Hecht.

LIU is a jury member of several international piano competitions. She serves as the Artist Ambassador at the Sicily International Piano Festival, guest faculty/artist at the Texas State International Piano Festival, Northern Michigan University, and the International Piano Island Festival.