China West Suite by Chen Yi

‘China West Suite was written in four movements for two pianos. The authentic folk music from China West has amazed and inspired me to write this piece, which has the folk music elements drawn from the folk songs Gadameilin and Pastoral of the Meng People (Mongolian); Ashima of the Yi People; Du Mu and Amaliehuo of the Zang People (Tibetan), and Dou Duo and the Lushend ensemble music of the Miao People. I adapted the piece for marimba and piano after the premiere, under the request from Prof. Jeffery Meyer of Ithaca College, who is the pianist of the piano-percussion duo ‘Strike’ (with percussionist Paul Vaillancourt) for a recording project on Luminescence Records in Chicago, and their performances in 2008.’