La joie de la souffrance (The Joy of Suffering) 

Composer: CHEN Qigang
  • La joie de la souffrance (The Joy of Suffering) is a concerto for violin and orchestra written in 2017.
    • The piece was co-commissioned by BMF Music Festival, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Issa Stern International Violin Competition, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.1
  • The violin’s “broad capacity for expression” was the inspiration behind the piece.
  • While a concerto, La joie de la souffrance does not uphold the traditional 3-movement structure. Rather, the composer described the structure of the piece as “waves of emotion” played without pause.
    • Listen for: Chen used an ancient Chinese melody called Yangguan Sandie, which traditionally played on the guqin.2

Sources

  1. “Works,” Qigang Chen, accessed May 6, 2024, http://www.chenqigang.com/works.php?channel=4.
  2. Laurie Niles, “Interview with Composer Qigang Chen: ‘La Joie de la souffrance’ Violin Concerto,” Violinist.com (2018), accessed May 6, 2024, https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/20188/27430/.

Cut IDs

23252