Dr Jerry Yue Zhuo’s Sheng-sheng-man now available on Spotify

A studio recording of Dr Jerry Yue Zhuo’s Sheng-sheng-man has been released following the composition’s successful premiere in March 2024.

This contemporary vocal ensemble composition was first performed as the opening piece at the School of Music’s annual International Women’s Day concert in March 2024. It was performed by Pavilion Ensemble, a young contemporary music group led by musical director Yajie Ye – herself a Cardiff alumna - and featured London-based soprano Daniella Sicari. It was later recorded in the School of Music’s concert hall.

Conductor Yajie spoke highly of the concert and the recording: "Working with Daniella, Jerry, and the incredible players from Pavilion Ensemble was an incredibly rewarding experience. Daniella brought such a powerful yet nuanced interpretation to the piece, and her dedication to understanding the intricate details of the music really brought the composition to life."

Jerry took inspiration for Sheng-sheng-man from the titular poem by Chinese female poet Li Qingzhao (1084–1155, Song dynasty). The poem was written after the death of her husband, at a time when the Song dynasty was about to collapse due to foreign military invasions.

A reinterpretation of the poem, the composition incorporates elements of Jerry’s own musical language that are almost irrelevant to the poem’s narrative. For example, Daniella, was instructed to beat a pair of red woodblocks while singing. "These are Jiaobei, the fortune-telling blocks used in my local Taoist religion", says Jerry. "They help me to create a musical space where it may be possible for my identity to interact with that of the poet".

Vocalist Daniella Sicari enjoyed working both with Jerry and Yajie on the piece. She said of the experience: "I really enjoy working on new music and particularly enjoyed working on this piece with Jerry; he was receptive to my feedback in rehearsals and was helpful when I had questions about the piece. It was a very short rehearsal period, but we got it all done in time!". Remembering her preparation for the performance, Daniella commended the support she received from the conductor: "Yajie and I explored new things as we went along in the performance process – both as the music director and conductor and as the language coach".

Cardiff alumna Yajie said that "returning to Cardiff was more than just a homecoming; it was a chance to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about diversity and inclusivity in the music world. As a female conductor, I am acutely aware of the challenges and responsibilities that come with this role - especially in a field where women are still underrepresented. Taking the podium during an event that celebrates women's contributions was not only a personal milestone but also a statement about the importance of female leadership in the arts".

The recording is now available on Spotify.