Composers show off their skills at the cutting edge of contemporary music

UK Michael Finnissy, Chris Dench and Jeroen Speak and Taiwanese composers Pan Hwang-long (潘皇龍), Chung Yiu-kwong (鍾耀光) and Lee Tzyy-sheng (李子聲) will present new and familiar works in Striking Sound, East and West, a concert produced and performed at Zhongshan Hall by musicians from Taipei's Forum Percussion Ensemble.

Representing generations of British and Taiwanese composers, each of the artists is credited with a list of awards and a repertoire described as the "cutting edge of musical composition." Six original works, each written by one of the artists, will be performed at the show.

In a press preview of the show, Speak said the concert provides an opportunity to hear and compare challenging contemporary music from two distinct and diverse cultures.

Last year Speak came to Taiwan on an artist fellowship program promoted by the British Council and Council for Cultural Affairs. During that time he composed Gu Ta, an unconventional percussion composition. Speak returned to Taiwan last month, and tonight he will hold the world premiere of his new work.

The Taiwanese composer Lee will also have a premiere of his work SE IV, a piece commissioned especially for the show. Lee's is the only work that employs a non-percussion instrument. For his piece he has invited Taiwanese musician Lin Hui-kuan (林慧寬) to play one of the oldest Chinese instruments, the pipa (four-stringed lute).

Event Information
What: Striking Sound, East and West
When: Tonight at 7:30pm
Where: Zhongshan Hall (中山堂), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei (台北市延平南路98號).
Tickets: NT$300 to NT$700, available at the door or online at www.musforum.com.tw or by calling (02) 2593 5811.