Let Fly (2013)

...it's a wonderfully crafted, entirely personal compositional statement that draws on folk tunes and a lyrical use of the violin… I suspect that Sheng's daring, virtuoso creation will see many more performances.

It’s an exuberant work, controlled by the image of a virtuoso violin soaring above the orchestra. Sheng is well-known for blending elements of his Chinese heritage into a basically American symphonist language, and while the form of the concerto is quite traditional – a fast-slow-fast structure that unfolds in one continuous movement – the music is tinged with alluring exotica and drama.


The color and flavor of Chinese folk song pulsates through the DNA of the piece though Sheng doesn’t quote literal folk material. The solo violin melodies slide provocatively between pitches; scales and harmonies wander into pleasant astringencies. Sheng’s orchestration is also full of surprise. He has a way of snapping the ensemble to attention with all kinds of percussion (vibes, bongos, gong, etc.). As the music progresses, the soloist seems to keep picking up dance partners, falling into rewarding duets with cello, bass clarinet, clarinet, timpani, French horn, another violin and more, before striking back out on his own. Orchestral passages offered climaxes of austere brass or lushly blended strings and winds.