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Yu-Hui Chang is a Taiwanese-American composer who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music. Born in Taiwan in 1970, Chang began her musical education at a young age, studying piano and composition. She later moved to the United States to pursue her studies, earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the National Taiwan Normal University and a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. She went on to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University. Chang's compositions are known for their unique blend of Eastern and Western musical traditions. She draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including Chinese folk music, Western classical music, and contemporary music. Her works often feature intricate rhythms, complex harmonies, and unconventional instrumentation. One of Chang's most notable works is her composition "Four Fantasies," which was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2007. The piece is a set of four short movements, each of which explores a different musical idea. The first movement, "Fantasy on a Chinese Folk Song," is based on a traditional Chinese melody and features a solo violin accompanied by the orchestra. The second movement, "Fantasy on a Bach Prelude," is a reimagining of a Bach prelude for solo cello and orchestra. The third movement, "Fantasy on a Schubert Song," is a setting of a Schubert lieder for soprano and orchestra. The final movement, "Fantasy on a Taiwanese Song," is based on a Taiwanese folk song and features a solo erhu (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) accompanied by the orchestra. Another notable work by Chang is her composition "The Time Gallery," which was commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation in 2010. The piece is a set of five short movements, each of which represents a different moment in time. The first movement, "The Time of the Ancients," is a tribute to the music of ancient China and features a solo pipa (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) accompanied by the orchestra. The second movement, "The Time of the Baroque," is a nod to the music of Bach and features a solo harpsichord accompanied by the orchestra. The third movement, "The Time of the Romantics," is a setting of a Schumann lieder for soprano and orchestra. The fourth movement, "The Time of the Moderns," is a tribute to the music of Stravinsky and features a solo clarinet accompanied by the orchestra. The final movement, "The Time of the Future," is a forward-looking piece that features a variety of percussion instruments and electronic sounds. Chang's compositions have been performed by a wide range of ensembles and orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, and the New York New Music Ensemble. She has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Rome Prize, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Fromm Music Foundation commission. In addition to her work as a composer, Chang is also a dedicated educator. She has taught at a number of institutions, including Brandeis University, Boston University, and the New England Conservatory of Music. She is currently a professor of music at Brandeis University, where she teaches composition and music theory. Overall, Yu-Hui Chang is a composer who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music.

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