A Performance Guide and Recording of Ping Gao’s Piano Work: Night Alley, The Autumn Pond and Piano Suite Daydreams

Ping Gao is regarded as one of the most important Chinese pianist-composers of his generation. Born in Chengdu, China in 1970, he is currently a composition professor at Capital Normal University in Beijing and a guest professor at China Conservatory. Gao’s music combines contemporary Western compositional techniques with Chinese traditional elements. In this project, the author has chosen to study and record three of Gao’s piano works: Night Alley (2006), The Autumn Pond (2012) and the piano suite Daydreams (2019), totaling approximately 38 minutes of music. The written portion of this project will provide introductory information about the composer, as well as observations about the incorporation of Chinese traits into his contemporary compositional style. When applicable, the paper will outline some of the elements of Chinese music and provide suggestions about learning and performing these pieces from a pianistic perspective.