APPLE
CHANG
Danse de Ballet en Solo
pour violon solo et piano
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“Danse de Ballet en Solo”, written for solo violin and piano, reflects composer Apple Chang's refined sensibility and nuanced command of Western classical and contemporary expressions, portraying the years of accumulated scars, relentless training, and unwavering perseverance behind the glamorous appearance of ballet dancers on stage.
SYNOPSIS
In 2024, Apple Chang was commissioned by violinist Sheng-Ching Hsu to compose a new work. Conceived by the composer and titled Danse de Ballet en Solo pour violon solo et piano, the piece reflects Apple’s original artistic vision and embodies her refined sensibility and nuanced command of Western classical and contemporary musical languages. Beneath the glittering façade of ballet on stage, the music portrays years of accumulated scars, relentless training, and unwavering perseverance.
The selection of Danse de Ballet en Solo was premiered at a concert held at Brand Library Recital Hall in Los Angeles in October 2024. Themed 'Her Voices', the concert featured music by female composers from past to contemporary times, including Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, Clara Schumann, Amy Beach, Apple Chang, Marjorie Merryman, Kala Ramnath, Michiru Oshima, and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. The performance featured the commissioning violinist, Sheng-Ching Hsu, with Xiao Chen on piano.
The complete version of Danse de Ballet en Solo were premiered in February 2025 at three concerts titled Transformation, held at Daniel Recital Hall at CSULB-Bob Cole Conservatory in Los Angeles, Taipei National Concert Hall, and the Recital Hall at Weiwuying Performing Center in Taiwan. The concerts were performed by violinist Sheng-Ching Hsu and pianist Josh Tatsuo Cullen. The program for the three concerts includes compositions by J.S. Bach (Partita No. 3), E. Schulhoff (Sonata No. 2), S.Rachmaninoff (Romance), Amy Beach (Romance), and A. Andrzejowski (Romance). In reflection of the concert's theme, Apple's Danse de Ballet en Solo was featured as the thematic work for this 'Transformation' concert series.
DANSE DE BALLET EN SOLO
INSTRUMENTATION
Solo violin and piano
DURATION
20 minutes
▎Commissioned by Sheng-Ching Hsu
PERFORMANCE
▎Her Voices
Brand Library Recital Hall, LA
October 12, 2024
▎Transformation
Daniel Recital Hall at CSULB-Bob Cole Conservatory, LA
February 3, 2025
Taipei National Concert Hall, Taipei, Taiwan
February 7, 2025
Weiwuying Performing Center, Taiwan
February 16, 2025
photo provided by Sheng-Ching Hsu
PROGRAM NOTES
Ballet, with its graceful origins deeply rooted in 16th-century France, emerged as an art form that has since evolved into a profound expression of discipline, elegance, and emotional depth.
Plie, Tendu, Rond de Jambe à Terre, En L'air, Degage, Pirouette, Jeté, Chassé—"Bend," "Stretch," "Drag," "Draw Circles with the Toes," "Turn," "Leap." These are movements that persist through the changing seasons of autumn leaves, snow, blooming cherry blossoms, and lush greenery, embodying the ceaseless journey of self-surpassing. Though ballet dancers appear glamorous on stage, shining under the spotlight, their brilliance is also a reflection of years of accumulated scars, relentless training, and unwavering perseverance. Along this dance journey, they may witness the splendor, admiration, harsh realities, and even betrayals on stage.
Danse de Ballet en Solo written for violin and piano, tells the story of a ballet dancer through every graceful movement, radiant turn, and disciplined refinement. This piece reveals the dancer's private dialogues, inner breakthroughs, and spiritual struggles, often hidden from view. The music conveys a spectrum of emotions—passion, cold elegance, wild energy, warmth, solitude, persistence, darkness, and grace—woven together in a duet between piano and violin, portraying the dancer’s life as a true reflection of the solo ballet.
「芭蕾 獨舞」為小提琴與鋼琴
Plie、Tendu、Rond de Jambe à Terre、En L'air、Degage、Pirouette、Jeté、Chassé，「彎曲」、「伸展」、「拖動」、「足尖繪圓」、「旋轉」、「跳躍」，這是在每個楓紅、白雪、落櫻以及綠意盎然的四季更迭中，沒有停止的自我超越。芭蕾舞者看似外表光鮮亮麗，那每盞舞台燈柱下的耀眼奪目，卻也是背後經年累月的傷痕累累，以及無數訓練與堅忍奮戰的累積。一段舞蹈旅程中，或也看盡舞台上，多少的燦亮、愛慕、現實與背叛。
"Danse de Ballet en Solo" 「芭蕾 獨舞」為小提琴與鋼琴，訴說一位芭蕾舞者，在舞台上、在自我練舞過程中，每個經典奪目的舞動、綻放、迴旋、洗鍊，以及這段舞蹈歷程中，不為人知的自我對話以及自我突破與精神掙扎，充斥著熱情、執著、奔放、溫暖、冷豔、孤獨、黑暗以及瀟灑。藉由鋼琴與小提琴的交織共舞，此曲展現一位絕美的芭蕾舞者的舞蹈人生，如同獨舞的真實寫照。
