Di Xiao – Journey 1-2. Claude Debussy Deux arabesques (Two Arabesques) 1. Andantino con moto 2. Allegretto scherzando 3. Frédéric Chopin Ballade No.4, Op.52 4-6. Chinese Images 4. Peixun Chen Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake 5. Luting He A Shepherd Boy playing his Little Flute 6. Jianzhong Wang Liuyang River 7-9. Wolfgang Amadéus Mozart Sonata, K 570 in B flat 7. Allegro 8. .Adagio 9. Allegretto 10-15. Edvard Grieg Lyric Pieces, Op.43 10. Sommerfugl (Butterfly) 11. Ensom vandrer (Solitary Traveller) 12. I hjemmet (In my Native Country) 13. Småfugl (Little Bird) 14. Erotikk (Erotikon) 15. Til våren (To spring) 16. Claude Debussy L'isle joyeuse (The Island of Pleasure) 17. Edward Elgar Salut d’Amour (Love’s Greeting) Op. 12 Journey Born and growing up in the China of the 80’s, Di embraced the opportunity to learn western music as well as traditional Chinese folk tunes. This album refers to her personal and musical journey from East to west. With her music Di guides us through many different scenes. From an autumn moon on a calm Cantonese lake to spring in Norway and from a portrait of a young buffalo shepherd in Southern China to an exciting treasure Island. As Di explains ‘life is a journey, we all go to the same destination, but it is the journey counts, I am determined to enjoy, share and make the most of mine.’ Debussy wrote his Arabesques over the period 1888 - 1892, a very early period in his career. Arabesque is a reference to elaborate and slightly exotic design rather than Arabian musical style. In Di’s words ‘The graceful opening of the first Arabesque, with its beautiful harmonies floating around suspended in the air, reminds me of the feeling of being in nature; rolling hills, vibrant greens and blowing wind. The second piece is like a fluffy little bird, jumping in the spring time.’ The fourth of Chopin’s ballades is considered the greatest of the four and by many to be the epitome of romantic music, the 'Mona Lisa' of music. It summarizes Chopin's lifetime of creative experience. ‘Chopin’s last ballade is one of my favourite pieces; it moved me to tears the first time I sight read it. To me, it is a piece that captures almost all elements of musical technique as well as combining the deepest and most contrasting of human emotions.’ The piano has become the most popular instrument in China over the past 30 years and Chinese students play an overwhelmingly western repertoire. To show that China has its own talented composers, Di wishes to introduce traditional Chinese music to the west. ’Autumn Moon on a Clam Lake’ was originally written for a Canton Opera and was later rearranged by Peixun Chen, Di notes ‘This nostalgic, dreamy song always makes me think of my home and the delicate scenery of southern China. “A Shepherd Boy Playing His Little Flute” eloquently describes a naïve, energetic little boy enjoying himself before falling asleep exhausted in the end. This was the very first Chinese piece I learned when I was little, it brings back many childhood memories for me.’ Liuyang River is a popular folk song composed in the early 20 century, ‘my mom used to hum it all the time, you can really hear the meandering river flowing and sparkling in the sunshine.’ Mozart’s K 570 piano sonata dates from 1789, Musicologist Alfred Einstein called the work ‘perhaps the most completely rounded of...all [the Mozart piano sonatas], the ideal of his piano sonata.’ The opening Allegro is quite light in character; it is masterful in the way it wrings various structural and contrapuntal implications from its deceptively bare opening. E flat Adagio is a rondo with two episodes that sets out to beguile rather than convey profundity. The final Allegretto bubbles with humour and surprise effects. Di explains her relationship with Mozart as follows ’I feel very close to Mozart, his music brings warmth and humanity to life; brings tears and smiles to our eyes all at once. Through his music, we learn not to take life too seriously and that even at the dark and tragic moments we can still find hope and sunlight.’ Grieg's six Lyric Pieces evoke different aspects of nature, from the opening movement ‘Butterfly' to a representation of ‘Spring’ in the finale. As a Norwegian composer and pianist who worked during the Romantic period, Grieg's romanticism was an intensely strong national style involving elements of Norwegian folk music. ‘I am amazed by the delicacy and sensitivity in Grieg’s music. These painting like short pieces are so beautiful yet they are delivered almost effortlessly.’ Written in 1904, L’Isle Joyeuse falls somewhere in between the style of Debussy’s middle period and his truly impressionistic later work. It was an eventful period for the composer as he left his wife for Emma Bardac; the couple had a daughter Claude-Emma the following year. L'isle joyeuse is believed to have been inspired by Watteau’s painting 'Departure to the Island of Cythera,' which is the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. ‘Debussy teleports us to this world where waves of sound bubble with joy and excitement, a real show off for Debussy’s technical brilliance. I need to be very precise as my fingers fly.’ Elgar finished Salut d’Amour in July 1888, and was written as an engagement present to his fiancé. It was originally a piece for violin and piano but was later rearranged, by the composer himself, for piano solo. The opening tune is one of the sweetest little melodies imaginable; it gently dips down a sixth and then back up again at the start of each phraselet. The music of the central section is built entirely from the kind of long-short-short dactylic rhythm that Schubert loved so much. Di says ’ in June this year I was invited to give a celebration recital on Elgar’s Birthday at the Elgar’s Birthplace Museum in Malvern. It was very special and a real honor for me to play Elgar’s own music in his birthplace on such a special occasion. I came from China and now live in the UK, what a perfect way to celebrate that.’ Watch Di Xiao at YouTube EcstasyXiao or visit www.dixiao.co.uk