Canadian Composers Interview Series with Vivian Fung
" In our new blog series, Canadian Composers Interview with ACNMP board member and organist Matthew Boutda, we endeavour to illuminate the artistic process of select working composers from across Canada."
Matthew: Would you mind sharing a few words about your personal and musical background?
Vivian: I was born and raised in Edmonton. I began playing the piano very early and my first pianoteacher, who also happened to be a composer, encouraged me to composeand notate. As a young kid, I didn’t like to practice so I started to compose instead. I wrote my first pieces when I was seven or eight. These were very basic pieces that expressed stories and my imaginations.I think these early days in Edmonton were very important because itshaped the idea of cultivating imagination in me.
Matthew: How often are you composing now? Are you currently working on a new composition?
Vivian: My compositional process goes inspurts! This past month was busy with travelling and preparing forperformances. Next, I will concentrate on new projects – an orchestralpiece for the Winnipeg New Music Festival and a double violin concertofor the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.
Matthew: What advice do you have for beginner composers?
Vivian: I would encourage young musiciansto experience creating a piece. It really isn’t about the end resultbut about the process of creating. I encourage everyone to also becurious listeners; listen to pieces you might not know or listen to whatothers, not only in Canada but around the world, are creating.
Matthew: If you had to choose just one, what is your fondest musical memory?
Vivian: Hearing The Rite of Spring byStravinsky when I was growing up! It got me excited about new music anddiscovering more about using different chords and clusters! Not havingto rely on tertiary harmonies and the possibility of incorporating otherorchestral instruments.
Vivian is currently putting the finishing touches on a new orchestral work to be premiered at the Winnipeg New Music Festival next month. Listen to her work “The Ice is Talking” premiered by percussionist Aiyun Huang at the Banff Centre this past summer.