Musheng Chen was born in the province of Zhejiang in the south east of China. Today he is considered as one of the most remarkable Chinese composers of his generation.
From 1993 to 1998 he studied at the Shanghai Conservatory, with Chinese masters Chen Ming-zhi (fugue), Yang li-qing (orchestration), Zhao Xiao-Sheng (composition) etc. In October 2000/04 he settled in Geneva where he undertook composition studies in the class of Eric Gaudibert at the Conservatory of Geneva, parallel to this he attended in 2003/04 a master class held by Klaus Huber in Lugano. From 2004 to 2005 he lived in Paris as a composer in residence at the Cité International des Arts.
Since the premiere of his concert-portrait "Ch´an (Suite) " took place at the Radio DRS2 in January 2002 in Bern, the music of Musheng gained a considerable public audience. His works have been performed at several festivals and concerts throughout Europe and Asia. His future commissions include: a chamber composition by Berlin Philharmonic, a flute concerto for Maestro P-Y Artaud by the French State, a new opera San Qi Ju (libretto by Christopher Park)?a orchestra piece by Shanghai Conservatory Orchestra for its tour of the Germany in this summer.
He has received numerous international prizes and awards including: first honorary mention form the Accademia Costantiniana in Roma, first Grand prize of the Concours Dutilleux, first Grand prize form the Academie de Lutèce in Paris,. He's also winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition" in Belgium , Amsterdam Nieuw Ensemble Chinese composer competition, "Young Artiste Award" from the Geneva City and Patino Foundation etc.
Musheng is member of the Swiss Musician Association (ASM) and SUISA. His some scores publish by the Alphonse Leduc Editions in Paris. He is currently teaching at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
Work list
Ch'an I (2000-2001)
Meditation
Instrumentation: for pipa solo
First part of the suite Ch'an.
Duration: 6' 20" Manuscript
Ch'an II (2001)
Silence
Instrumentation: for shakuhachi and pipa
Second part of the suite Ch'an.
Duration: 14' 00" Manuscript
Ch'an III (2001-2002)
Sublimation
Instrumentation: for shakuhachi, pipa, soprano and percussion
Third part of the suite Ch'an.
Duration: 39' 00" Manuscript
String quartet No. 1 (2001-2002)
Yun
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Les franges du Rêve I (2001/2003)
Instrumentation: for flute in G and harp
Duration: 10' 00"
Edition Alphonse Leduc
175, rue Saint-Honoré F-75040 Paris Cedex 01 France
Si l'âme, c'était ce ciel... (2002-2004)
Yun 2 - Concerto
Instrumentation: for guitar, four female voices and chamber orchestra (2.1.2.1/2.0.0.0/2perc/hp.pf/4.2.2.1)
Texts: Li Qingzhao, Biao Chen
Duration: 28' 00" Manuscript
Les franges du Rêve II (2003)
Instrumentation: for flute in G, harp and string sextet (2.2.2)
Edition Alphonse Leduc
175, rue Saint-Honoré F-75040 Paris Cedex 01 France
Fragment pour flûte solo (2003)
Instrumentation: for flute in C (or in G) solo
Duration: 3' 30"
Edition Alphonse Leduc
175, rue Saint-Honoré F-75040 Paris Cedex 01 France
Three pieces for guitar solo (2003-2004)
Extract from "Si l'âme, c'était le ciel..."
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Duo for flute and guitaar (2004)
Extract from "Si l'âme, c'était ce ciel..."
Duration: 1' 50" Manuscript
Les franges du Rêve III (2004)
Instrumentation: for flute solo, piano and string trio
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
Trois visions (2004-2005)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (1.1.2.1/1.1.1.0/perc/hp.pf/1perc/8.8.4.4.2)
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Ch'an I (version 2) (2005)
Meditation
Instrumentation: for pipa solo and ensemble (zheng, erhu, sheng / flute, guitar, perc, vn, va, vc, db)