A Rhythm from Yi

This is only a notation software Finale’s playback midi demo.

When I was commissioned by the San Jose Youth Chamber Orchestra in 2019 to write a piece for a string quartet of four 3D printed instruments and a traditional string orchestra, I was instantly inspired by the sound of a 3D printed violin that reminded me of the folk dance music from the ethnic minority Yi people. Known as “String Skipping” in the southwest region of Yunnan province in China, the tune performed on the folk instruments for the dance resonates with the open string sonority of the 3D printed instruments. The lively and rhythmical dance is often performed for celebrations, a practice that can be traced hundreds of years back. In this piece of music under the title “A Rhythm from Yi,” I was just trying to catch the vigorous spirit of the Yi traditional dance.

“A Rhythm from Yi” is in a form of concerto grosso, in which there is an interplay both between the leading string quartet and the orchestra and between the different voices within.

The music opens with the quartet beckoning to introduce the core descending fourth motive, which is echoed by the orchestra leading to the pulsating dance rhythm. The melody is tossed around and doubled with the open strings to invest the music with some rustic color. A new theme, somewhat lyrical, is introduced in the middle section, which returns to the opening theme with a climax. The cadenza of the quartet is brief, and the closing section, high in spirit and more complex in texture, brings the music to the ending with a pounding tutti on the descending fourth motive, the backbone of the theme.