Role

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Composer

Country

:

China

Birth

:

1954

Period

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Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Ge Gan-Ru is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on September 25, 1954, in Shanghai, China. He is known for his unique style that blends traditional Chinese music with Western classical music. Ge Gan-Ru grew up in a family of musicians, and his father was a famous composer and conductor in China. He started playing the violin at the age of six and began composing music at the age of 12. Ge Gan-Ru studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he learned traditional Chinese music and Western classical music. He later went to the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition with the renowned composer Wu Zuqiang. In 1983, Ge Gan-Ru moved to the United States to study at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he earned his master's degree in composition. Ge Gan-Ru's music is characterized by its fusion of Chinese and Western musical elements. He often uses traditional Chinese instruments, such as the erhu and pipa, in his compositions, and he incorporates Chinese melodies and rhythms into his music. At the same time, he also uses Western classical music techniques, such as serialism and aleatoric music, in his compositions. One of Ge Gan-Ru's most famous works is his "Violin Concerto No. 1," which was commissioned by the BBC and premiered in 1992. The concerto is a fusion of Chinese and Western musical elements and features a solo violin accompanied by a Western orchestra and traditional Chinese instruments. The concerto has been performed by many famous violinists, including Cho-Liang Lin and Gil Shaham. Another notable work by Ge Gan-Ru is his "Wu Xing – The Five Elements," which was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and premiered in 2002. The piece is based on the Chinese concept of the five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water – and features a Western orchestra and traditional Chinese instruments. The piece has been performed by many orchestras around the world, including the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the China National Symphony Orchestra. Ge Gan-Ru has also composed many chamber music works, including his "String Quartet No. 2," which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and premiered in 1995. The quartet is a fusion of Chinese and Western musical elements and features traditional Chinese instruments, such as the pipa and yangqin, alongside the string quartet. In addition to his compositions, Ge Gan-Ru has also been a professor of composition at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. He has also been a visiting professor at many universities around the world, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Michigan. Ge Gan-Ru's music has been recognized with many awards and honors, including the Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rome Prize, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Music Award. He has also been commissioned by many orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Kronos Quartet. In conclusion, Ge Gan-Ru is a contemporary classical music composer who has made significant contributions to the fusion of Chinese and Western musical elements. His unique style has earned him international recognition and many commissions from orchestras and ensembles around the world.

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