Chamber concert an enjoyable study of musical nationalism

A FOLKLORIC JOURNEY: MELODIES OF THE HOMELAND

- Chang Tou Liang

CONCERT A FOLKLORIC JOURNEY: MELODIES OF THE HOMELAND Gabriel Lee (violin), Zoi Yeh (cello) & Donald Law (piano) Esplanade Recital Studio Oct 31

The idea of home and homesickness in music mostly came about during the Romantic era, largely due to composers travelling away from their lands of birth and the rise of nationalism.

This chamber concert was an enjoyable study of musical nationalism and how composers poured their hearts out when reminded of their origins.

The evening opened with pianist Donald Law performing Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Dumka (Op. 59) for solo piano.

While he was considered too Western in style and taste by the "Mighty Handful" of Russian nationalist composers, Tchaikovsky nevertheless carved out a virtuoso showpiece from its brooding subject (Dumka comes from the Ukrainian word "duma", which is a "lament").