Abram Chasins - 3 Chinese Pieces Op. 5 (audio + sheet music)

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Romantic artists have long been fascinated with the Orient. Paradoxically, this attraction became even more powerful because it concerned essentially unknown territory. Guided by a more or less imagined Orient, a good deal of music was motivated by the picturesque. However, we should not forget that this fascination with non-Western music offered the Western composer the possibilities for a renewal of the tonal language. Authenticity was clearly taking a backseat to imagination. Composed with all the authority of someone who has never set foot in the Orient, the Three Chinese Pieces composed by American pianist, composer, writer, educator and radio personality Abram Chasins (1903-1987) may be a good case in point.

Chasins was appointed on the recommendation of Josef Hofmann to the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at age 23. He performed in solo recitals and with major orchestras in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. He also hosted a classical music radio show for decades, and published books on his colleagues Van Cliburn and Stokowski alongside a highly entertaining volume entitled “Speaking of Pianists.” A master piano stylist, he composed two piano concertos, 24 preludes, and various virtuoso two-piano transcriptions. However, his best-known and most frequently performed work is undoubtedly his Three Chinese Pieces, a set of piano miniatures that he also orchestrated. Here, the performer and audience can experience an imagined “Flirtation in a Chinese Garden,” “A Shanghai Tragedy,” and the bustle of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the “Rush Hour in Hong Kong.” These short gems were taken up by some of the finest pianists of the 20th century, including Wilhelm Backhaus, Shura Cherkassky and Josef Hofmann.

Please take note that the audio AND sheet music ARE NOT mine. Feel free to change the video quality to a minimum of 480p for the best watching experience.

Performance by: Shura Cherkassky
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1)A Shanghai tragedy 0:03
2) Flirtation in a Chinese garden 5:17
3) Rush hour in Hong Kong 7:18

hermannschneider
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This is stunning and I'm just hearing it for the first time...

LukeFaulkner
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I got more enthralled the more I listened. What a great set of pieces!

Thebigballsmanful
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I am new to these. These are really good pieces. Thanks.

nickk
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Cool piece! I love the consecutive fifths in the dramatic sections and the beautiful modalism of the opening. Yes, harmonically it is certainly more influenced by romanticism and post romanticism than actual ‘Chinese’ harmony. It is really beautiful

noahmosley
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Wow, the first one it's so... Magical! Love it! Never heard about this guy, what a good surprise!

JustMiluna
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I am Hongkongese.









Rush Hours in Hong Kong are more like Penderecki's Threnody

lololyoo
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These are so cool! I hope one day I'll find such a video for his preludes. I've only heard the one played by Cyprien Katsaris and it's incredible.

juliendespois
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I remember this one AMAZING pianist Philip Fowke gave us a recital.
He played the last piece for us. We cheered, it was such a riveting piece.

amj.composer
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I like it! The heavily diatonic writing in the first two is very reminiscent of Godowsky's Java Suite.

DdavidoffC
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Yea this piece is “Chinese” inspired but mostly European impressionist

andrew_z_
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As a person from Shanghai, I confirm this to be canonically accurate.

SCRIABINIST
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Reminds me of Godowsky's Java suite.

medviation
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Abram Chasins wife was the wonderful pianist Constance Keene.

msotil
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What an interesting time to post this in particular amidst these tumultuous current events.

Kalen
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Very interesting style. Doesn't sound exactly oriental or Chinese to me, but these pieces create very unique ambience to say the least

shen.daniel
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Really? Are these chinese pieces??? I'm feeling like a french here)))

japanstar
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Funfair: it not only sounds like ravel, this Musik, amongst much other, inspired him

darioc
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Rush hour in Hong Kong is slightly too slow😨

dariocugia
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Stay safe, everyone! We can overcome this outbreak together! Be strong 💪

justaharmlesspotato