Pikake & Pearls: Helen & Randy’s Website

Hello everybody,

Just wanted to share some news about us (Randy & Helen). This past weekend, we went to South Florida (Miami Beach and West Palm Beach) to perform “L’ours Chinois” a piece I was commissioned to write for Project Copernicus, a Miami-based chamber orchestra of just 10 or so players.

“L’ours Chinois” (The Chinese Bear) featured Helen as its violin soloist, and is a piece I wrote in the style of Fritz Kreisler’s violin showpieces, but with a flare of Martin Denny and traditional Chinese melodies. It’s a pastiche of sorts, one could say.

The concert, titled “From the Land of The Buddha,” was a program of four Asian-inspired new works by composers in their 20s. Having not composed a classical contemporary piece before, Randy was excited and
extremely honored to have my work featured on this program. The other composers relatively well-established: Steve Danyew (winner of an ASCAP composers award), Angel Lam (whose work has been recorded by Yo-Yo Ma, the Chicago Symphony, & The Silk Road Project), and Ryojiro Sato of Japan.

Anyways, here are 3 reviews of the concert:

Palm Beach Post:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/stepanich/entries/2007/08/review_project.html

Miami Herald:
http://www.miamiherald.com/tropical_life/story/217453.html

Sun Sentinel:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/music/sfl-muclcopernicusnbaug28,0,6469074.story
My favorite part of this review is the last line! Go Helen!!

Randy’s program notes for the piece:
http://randywong.net/exotica/2007/08/20/program-notes-for-lours-chinois

…And finally, a recording of the work:
myspace.com/randywong

Hope you like the piece! Thanks to Steve, Chung, and others from Project Copernicus for making this a success!

-Randy