Vivian Fung Explained

Vivian Fung (born 1975) is a JUNO Award-winning Canadian-born composer who writes music for orchestras, operas, quartets, and piano. Her compositions have been performed internationally.

Early life and education

Fung was born in Edmonton, Alberta. She began composition studies with Violet Archer and later studied with Narcis Bonet in Paris. She received her bachelor's degree, masters, and doctorate from The Juilliard School in New York City in 1996, 1997, and 2002, respectively. Her composition mentors included David Diamond and Robert Beaser, piano mentors included György Sándor and Ernesto Lejano, and conducting mentor was Miguel Harth-Beyoda.

Career

NPR calls Fung "one of today's most eclectic composers,"[1] and The Philadelphia Inquirer said she has a "stunningly original compositional voice"[2] through her use of blending Western musical forms with musical ideas from many cultures, including Balinese and Javanese gamelan, and folk songs from minority regions of China.

Fung travels often, exploring the diverse cultures of North Vietnam, Spain, and Bali, Indonesia. In 2012, Fung traveled to Southwest China for ethno-musicological research to study minority music and cultures in the Yunnan province. It was a continuation of the research that previously inspired "Yunnan Folk Songs" (2011). The project was commissioned by Fulcrum Point New Music in Chicago with support from the MAP Fund. After the world premiere in March 2011 of Fung's work "Yunnan Folk Songs", The Chicago Tribune wrote, "'Yunnan Folk Songs' stood out ... [with] a winning rawness that went beyond exoticism."[3]

Fung has been the composer-in-residence of the Delaware Chamber Music Festival, the Music in the Loft chamber music series in Chicago, the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and the Billings Symphony. She also completed residencies at the MacDowell, Yaddo, and Banff arts colonies, as well as residencies at National Sawdust, Alba Music Festival Composition Program, New York State School Music Association, Mostly Modern Festival Institute, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music, National Orchestra Institute + Festival, and Atlantic Center for the Arts.

In 2012, the Naxos Canadian Classics label released the world premiere recording of Fung's "Violin Concerto #1", her "Piano Concerto (Dreamscapes)", and "Glimpses" for prepared piano, with the Metropolis Ensemble conducted by Andrew Cyr, featuring violinist Kristin Lee, and pianist Conor Hanick. Several of her works have also been released commercially on the Telarc, Çedille, and Signpost labels. Fung's "Violin Concerto" received the 2013 JUNO Award for Classical Composition of the Year.[4]

Fung's "String Quartet No.3" was commissioned by the 11th Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC). It was performed by ten string quartets; the American group, the Dover Quartet, won first prize.[5] The Calgary Herald lauded the piece and referred to it as "Dark Journeys". As music critic Stephan Bonfield pointed out, the work is Fung's emotional response to the world conflict during that year, seen from the point of view of her own family's struggles.[6]

Awards

Fung has received a number of awards and grants, including the 2012 Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, New York Foundation for the Arts’ Gregory Millard Fellowship, and from ASCAP, BMI, the American Music Center, the MAP Fund, Music Alive!, and the League of American Orchestras, American Composers Forum, and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Fung's "Violin Concerto" earned her the 2013 Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year.[7] [8]

Works

Orchestral

Large Ensembles

Chamber Music

Solo works

Choral/Vocal

Opera

Discography

Album LabelRelease DatePiece(s) IncludedAwards
Mary Elizabeth Bowden, untitled albumCedille Records2024Trumpet Concerto
Jasper String Quartet: Fung String QuartetsSono LuminusOctober 27, 2023String Quartet No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4
Jin Yin[79] Cedille RecordsFebruary 7, 2020Birdsong
Ensemble Made in Canada: Mosaïque[80] Canadian Music CentreJanuary 24, 2020Shifting LandscapesJUNO nomination for "Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber"
Notorious RBG in Song[81] Cedille RecordsJune 8, 2018Pot Roast à La RBG
Mary Kathleen Ernst: Keeping Time[82] Innova RecordsMarch 25, 2014Keeping Time
All-Fung CD: Dreamscapes[83] NAXOS Canadian ClassicsSeptember 25, 2012Dreamscapes; Violin Concerto; Glimpses2013 JUNO Award for "Classical Composition of the Year"
Billy Collins Suite[84] Cedille RecordsOctober 27, 2009Billy Collins Suite
Apparitions[85] Signpost RecordsOctober 24, 2008Chant from Glimpses
Ying Quartet: Dim Sum[86] Telarc RecordsJanuary 15, 2008Pizzicato
Composers in the Loft[87] Cedille RecordsJanuary 1, 2007Miniatures

Notes and References

  1. Web site: McQuiston . Bob . November 13, 2012 . Classical Lost And Found: The Versatile Sound Of Vivian Fung . NPR.
  2. Web site: Dobrin . Peter . 2018-03-26 . Vivian Fung piece premiered by Daedalus Quartet . 2023-07-31 . www.inquirer.com . en.
  3. Web site: Artner . Alan G. . 24 March 2011 . Balancing act of complexity, accessibility for Fulcrum Point . Yunnan Folk Songs . Chicago Tribune.
  4. Web site: Vivian Fung . 2023-07-31 . The JUNO Awards . en-US.
  5. Web site: First Prize - Dover Quartet at BISCQ . 2013-11-10 . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131205143634/http://www.banffcentre.ca/media-release/1144/bisqc-winners-media-release . dead .
  6. Web site: Bonfield. Stephan. Dark Journeys. String Quartet No.3. The Calgary Herald.
  7. http://junoawards.ca/nominees-winners/ Juno Award "Classical Composition of the Year" 2013
  8. Matthew Parsons. "10 pieces by living Canadian composers that you will love". CBC Music, December 16, 2014
  9. Web site: 2023-04-26 . Parade . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2023-03-22 . Flute Concerto: Storm Within . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2023-04-27 . Prayer . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2023-02-28 . Trumpet Concerto . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2020-02-20 . A Child's Dream of Toys . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2019-03-19 . Concerto for Two Violins and String Orchestra . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2019-07-14 . Earworms . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2017-10-08 . Baroque Melting . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2017-02-04 . Launch! . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2018-12-08 . Biennale Snapshots . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  19. Web site: 2018-12-08 . Graffiti Mashup . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2018-04-11 . Violin Concerto No. 2: Of Snow and Ice . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  21. Web site: 2014-05-29 . Harp Concerto . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2022-05-04 . Aqua . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2023-05-26 . Dust Devils . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  24. Web site: 2015-05-19 . Violin Concerto No. 1 . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2020-02-20 . Piano Concerto: Dreamscapes . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2023-04-27 . String Sinfonietta . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  27. Web site: 2023-03-10 . Pizzicato for String Orchestra . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  28. Web site: 2013-11-06 . Indigenous Rites . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  29. Web site: 2012-09-01 . Gamelan Grunge – Mixed Ensemble . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  30. Web site: 2012-11-01 . Kreasi Mekanis Mainan – Mixed Ensemble . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  31. Web site: 2009-12-01 . Shaman Speaks for Clarinet or Saxophone Ensemble . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  32. Web site: 2023-07-18 . Down and Dirty . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  33. Web site: 2023-05-02 . Ominous Machine II . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  34. Web site: 2023-02-20 . Ominous Machine . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  35. Web site: 2023-02-07 . String Quartet No. 5: "Spiraling" . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  36. Web site: 2022-02-07 . Sparks . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  37. Web site: 2023-07-17 . Corona Morphs . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  38. Web site: 2021-03-20 . (Un)Wandering Souls . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  39. Web site: 2023-04-06 . String Quartet No. 4: "Insects and Machines" . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  40. Web site: 2021-06-07 . Shifting Landscapes . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  41. Web site: 2018-12-08 . Clarinet Quintet: Frenetic Memories . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  42. Web site: 2016-12-14 . Bounce . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  43. Web site: 2014-04-25 . Twist . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  44. Web site: 2014-06-24 . The Voices Inside My Head . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  45. Web site: 2021-02-23 . String Quartet No. 3 . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  46. Web site: 2020-02-13 . Birdsong . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  47. Web site: 2011-05-01 . Javanese Court Song . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  48. Web site: 2009-04-23 . String Quartet No. 2 . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  49. Web site: 2007-01-09 . Billy Collins Suite . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  50. Web site: 2013-11-18 . Miniatures . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  51. Web site: 2005-11-05 . Night Impressions for Traditional Chinese Instruments . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  52. Web site: 2004-01-24 . String Quartet No. 1 . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  53. Web site: 2009-05-19 . Chanted Rituals . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  54. Web site: 2023-03-10 . Pizzicato . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  55. Web site: 1998-10-01 . Scherzo . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  56. Web site: 1995-07-05 . Rhapsody . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  57. Web site: 2023-05-12 . Sparkle . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  58. Web site: 2022-03-26 . Shimmer . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  59. Web site: 2021-09-14 . Apéritif for Solo Trumpet . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  60. Web site: 2019-07-14 . The Ice Is Talking . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  61. Web site: 2020-04-14 . Humanoid . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  62. Web site: 2015-12-18 . Sketch . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  63. Web site: 2011-11-19 . Primitive Dance and Folksong – Piano . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  64. Web site: 2020-04-15 . Keeping Time – Piano . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  65. Web site: 2023-06-29 . Glimpses – Piano . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  66. Web site: 1997-03-12 . Silhouettes – Erhu . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  67. Web site: 2020-02-20 . Pot Roast à La RBG . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  68. Web site: 2020-02-20 . Yunnan Folk Songs . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  69. Web site: 2010-05-28 . Recommendation . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  70. Web site: 2010-05-28 . Sanci Kuni . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  71. Web site: 2013-11-18 . Kecak Attack! . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  72. Web site: 2021-06-24 . Six Haiku . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  73. Web site: 2004-04-20 . Kecak! . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  74. Web site: 2021-06-24 . Songs of Childhood . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  75. Web site: 1999-04-19 . Night Songs . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  76. Web site: 2021-03-20 . Two Opera Scenes: Grover and Friends/ Alarm (2021) . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  77. Web site: 2006-10-31 . The Legend of Sleepy Hollow . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  78. Web site: 2004-10-07 . The Night Singer – Voice and Piano . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  79. Web site: Jin Yin . 2023-07-20 . Cedille Records . en.
  80. Web site: Mosaïque . 2023-07-20 . Canadian Music Centre . en-US.
  81. Web site: Notorious RBG in Song Classical Music . 2023-07-20 . Cedille Records . en.
  82. Web site: Keeping Time Innova Recordings . 2023-07-20 . www.innova.mu.
  83. Web site: FUNG, Vivian: Piano Concerto, "Dreamscapes" / Viol.. - 8.573009 Discover more releases from Naxos . 2023-07-20 . www.naxos.com.
  84. Web site: The Billy Collins Suite Classical Music . 2023-07-20 . Cedille Records . en.
  85. Web site: 2008-10-24 . Apparitions . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  86. Web site: 2009-04-21 . Dim Sum . 2023-07-20 . VivianFung . en-US.
  87. Web site: Composers in the Loft Classical Music . 2023-07-20 . Cedille Records . en.