Sino-American

“Sino-American,” the latest release from UNCSA Media, showcases new music for concert band that honors the rich stories and traditions found in Chinese-American history. The album highlights the talent of UNCSA students in performances of two dynamic and innovative pieces by composer, conductor, and UNCSA alum David Huang Mailman.

"A Sino-American Suite" is a celebration of nearly 200 years of Chinese American musicmaking, spanning from the first major Chinese immigrant communities in 1850s California to the present day. Commissioned by a consortium of fifteen conductors and ensembles from across the country, "A Sino-American Suite" is the first work to give a concert treatment to archival recordings of early Chinese American song. The piece follows in the footsteps of band repertoire staples like Milburn’s "American Hymnsong Suite" and Still’s "Folk Suite for Band," bringing America’s diverse history to life in a new, colorful, and accessible way.

"Seabird" (Concerto for Bass Clarinet), written for soloist Milo Holcombe Pomerance, uses the Chinese myth of the Great Peng to feature the bass clarinet at its most virtuosic. The Great Peng starts life as a small fish in the depths of the ocean, but grows into a titanic bird with wings that are thousands of miles across. First recorded more than 2,000 years ago, the myth has long been interpreted as a tale of the meek becoming capable of changing the world. The piece pushes the bounds of the bass clarinet as a solo instrument in concert with lively band accompaniment.

Under the direction of the composer and supported by the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, “Sino-American” continues UNCSA Media’s mission to spotlight groundbreaking artistry from UNCSA’s students, alumni, and community.