Meet Andrey Artyomov, a young Russian composer . “Dance of the Lion” is a new ouvres, a concert overture and it introduces a musical theme in «Art & Signatures» contemporary art magazine.
Andrey Artyomov: “I am for classical ideals, for clear meanings, forms, for a statement. Whether it’s a step back from postmodernism or a step forward — it’s still unclear.”
“Dance of the Lion” is an ancient Chinese ritual and performance and a central element of many Chinese festivals. A bright colored lion`s costume, operated by two performers, twists and leaps to the thunder of an orchestra — a living symbol of strength, joy, and prosperity.
In his composition, Dance of the Lion, Andrey Artyomov enters into a dialogue with the ancient tradition. He incorporates a recognizable Chinese folk melody and subtly reproduces certain features of a traditional Chinese orchestra, its composition of brass and percussion instruments, unison playing, and the unique significance of percussion, which carries meaning on its own.
Although the ouvre does not include the choreographic aspect of the ritual, references to the visual component of the danse can be traced in the score. For example, the complementary interplay between the two piano soloists symbolizes the two performers inside the lion costume.
However, these allusions to Chinese tradition are surrounded by contemporary musical material that has no distinct national coloring and often sounds sharp and tense. The use of principles of European classical musical dramaturgy is also noteworthy.
Artyomov’s Dance of the Lion is a fusion of East and West, traditions and modern style.
