Hsiung-Zee Wong Explained

Hsiung-Zee Wong (born October 24, 1947) is a composer,^[1] artist, and designer who was born in Hong Kong.

Biography

Wong moved to the United States in 1966, where she worked as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator. She studied at the University of Hawaii until 1968. In 1970, she studied electronic music^[2] at Mills College with Robert Sheff (later known as Gene Tyranny) and Dane Rudhyar. In 1972, she studied industrial design at the California College of Arts and Crafts.^[3] Other teachers included Ernst Krenek, Chou Wen-Chung, Leonard Klein and Robert Ashley.^[4]  In 1972, Wong presented an art exhibit entitled "A Celebration of Women" at the Intersection Gallery (probably Intersection for the Arts).^[5]

Wong founded Hysteresis, a women's creative arts group that included Bay-area artists, at Mills College.^[6] She also performed with the Flowing Stream Ensemble. Wong's compositions include:

Electronic

• Cry of Women in the Wilderness (piano, gong, and amplified Zen bell; 1972)
• Earth Rituals (tape with chanting and sound improvisation; 1973)
• Maturity (taped piano improvisation; 1972)
• Sounding of the Sane (tape with audience chanting)

Guitar

• Artsongs and Ballads^[7]

Multimedia

• They Move, Don't They? (sound calligraphic score with visual slides; 1973)

Vocal

• Piano Ritual I (voice, piano, Chinese woodblock and gong)
• Songs (voice and guitar; 1964–1972)

Notes and References

1. Book: Anderson, Ruth. Contemporary American composers : a biographical dictionary. 1976. G.K. Hall. 0-8161-1117-0. Boston. 2035024.
2. Book: Stern, Susan. Women composers : a handbook. 1978. Scarecrow Press. 0-8108-1138-3. Metuchen, N.J.. 3844725.
3. Book: Cohen, Aaron I.. International encyclopedia of women composers. 1987. 0-9617485-2-4. Second, revised and enlarged. New York. 16714846.
4. Book: Pfitzinger, Scott. Composer genealogies : a compendium of composers, their teachers, and their students. March 2017. 978-1-4422-7225-5. Lanham, Maryland. 961457738.
5. Book: Female Artists, Past and Present. 1974. Women's History Research Center.. en.
6. Book: Mander. Anica Vesel. Feminism as Therapy. Rush. Anne Kent. 1974. Random House. 978-0-394-70937-6. en.
7. Book: MacAuslan, Janna. Guitar music by women composers : an annotated catalog. Aspen, Kristan, 1948-. 1997. 0-313-29385-6. Westport, Conn.. 36589202.