Following their solo label debut last year (Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence and Quartet Nos. 1-3, CD-80685), the Ying Quartet serve up a new concept of short works by Chinese-American composers for its second CD on Telarc. This new recording - entitled "Dim Sum," after the famous Chinese small-plate brunch - serves a selection of string quartet music. In the past four seasons, the Ying Quartet, consisting of four Chinese-American siblings, has pursued a particular interest in music of living Chinese-American composers through a non-traditional programming concept they have termed musical "Dim Sum." This project has been motivated by an exploration of the Yings' own cultural heritage coupled with the quartet's commitment to innovative concert presentation, as well as by the growing number, visibility, and excellence of composers of Chinese-American backgrounds.
"Dim Sum" features Chou Wen-chung's Larghetto Nostalgico and Leggierezza; Tan Dun's Drum and Gong, Cloudiness, and Red Sona; Bright Sheng's Silent Temple II and IV; Zhou Long's Song of the Ch'in; Chen Yi's Shuo; Ge Gan-ru's Fu; Lei Liang's Gobi Gloria and Vivian Fung's Pizzicato for String Quartet.