Born in Shanghai, now resident in Greater New York, Ge Gan-ru is one of China’s foremost composers. Very different from his previous exploration of the Western avant-garde, Shanghai Reminiscences is a warm and affecting evocation of “the street scenes and sounds” of Gan-ru’s childhood in pre-Cultural Revolution Shanghai, viewed through the lens of his adopted American traditions. Butterfly Overture is the composer’s symphonic tribute to a beloved teacher from his Shanghai Conservatory days. International Record Review described Ge Gan-ru’s string quartets (8.570603) as “Nothing short of contemporary masterpieces”.
Shanghai Reminiscences
1 Part I: My Childhood: I. Jing An Temple 04:37
2 Part I: My Childhood: II. Violin Beginner 02:01
3 Part I: My Childhood: III. Bicycle Music 03:07
4 Part I: My Childhood: IV. Pedlar's Tune I (Sharpening Knives) 03:06
5 Part I: My Childhood: V. Flies Chase A Bald Head 03:10
6 Part I: My Childhood: VI. Pedlar's Tune II (Water Melon) 00:52
7 Part I: My Childhood: VII. Pedlar's Tune III (Steamed Pork) 01:05
8 Part I: My Childhood: VIII. Pedlar's Tune IV (Toasted Gingkoes) 01:41
9 Part I: My Childhood: IX. Summer Night's Cooling Party 06:27
10 Part II: Cultural Revolution - Awakening: I. Growing Violinist 02:58
11 Part II: Cultural Revolution - Awakening: II. Chaos 02:40
12 Part II: Cultural Revolution - Awakening: III. Revolutionary March 02:10
13 Part II: Cultural Revolution - Awakening: IV. Fantasia 03:59
14 Part II: Cultural Revolution - Awakening: V. Lament 07:15
15 Part II: Cultural Revolution - Awakening: VI. Awakening 06:34
Butterfly Overture
16 Butterfly Overture 15:27
Total Playing Time: 01:07:09
