JEN, Chen-Hui

JEN, Chen-Hui

Chen-Hui Jen, Composer (1981, Taiwan)

Chen-Hui Jen is a composer, poet, and pianist, whose music presents an imaginative, spiritual, and poetic space with subtlety and sophistication. She writes music for orchestra, chorus, and chamber music for western and Asian instruments, with and without electronics. Chen-Hui Jen's music works reflect an angle of contemporary art music that integrates time, sound, color, and poetry. She earned a Ph.D. degree in music at the University of California, San Diego, and currently serves part time at the Florida International University as an instructor and as the pianist in the NODUS New Music Ensemble.

Chen-Hui Jen's music works have been performed at multiple prestigious new music festivals and concerts, including the ISCM World Music Days, SEAMUS, ICMC, Visiones Sonoras, Acanthes Music Festival, ACL Music Festival, EarShot San Diego, ISCM New Music Miami Season, People Inside Electronics series, Taipei International New Music Festival, WOCMAT, and Taiwan Contemporary Sizhu Music Festival. She has also received commissions by multiple ensembles including the League of American Orchestras Women Composers' Reading and Commission Project, Ensemble 20° dans le Noir, Aurora Borealis Duo, Accordant Commons, Astralis Duo, The Living Earth Show, Palimpsest Ensemble, Ensemble ISCM-Taiwan, Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra, Taipei Chamber Singers, Müller Chamber Choir, Ching-Yun Chorus, and Kaohsiung Chamber Choir, as well as multiple grants from the Taipei Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Taiwan National and Arts Foundation.

Chen-Hui Jen's piano performances primarily focus on experimental new music and electroacoustic music. She has been performed at many distinguished venues, conferences, and festivals including the Spectrum in New York City, Center for New Music in San Francisco, Taipei National Recital Hall, Taiwan Chai Found 101 Auditorium, Miami Bakehouse Art Complex, ISCM New Music Miami Season, Root Signal Festival, and FETA Festival.

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Orchestral/Concerto Works
Title Instrumentation Year Duration NCAF-funded
in eternal dusk Orchestra 2017 13'
yet the dew remains in pale Orchestra 2012 15'
...through drifting moons String Ensemble 2011 9'
The Mind of Crescent Moon Violin Concerto 2004 18'
Vocal Works/Choral
Title Instrumentation Year Duration NCAF-funded
Voices from the Twilight Islands Male Chorus 2020 7'
as though formless inside Male Chorus 2018 8'
…timelessly Soprano, Percussion 2017 8'
in between emptiness A capella Male Chorus 2016 8'
In Fading Colors of Autumn Hills Soprano Trio 2016 6'
Rising from the distant blue A capella Male Chorus 2014 7'
Trois poèmes pour la côte fuyante Mixed Chorus, Piano 2014 13'
twilight as a drifting islet Mixed Chorus in 2 Groups 2013 8'
Ringing Winds Mixed Chorus, Piano 2012 7'
Voices from the Montains Mixed Chorus 2008 15'
Romance Mixed Chorus, Piano 2007 7'
Harbor Nocturne Mixed Chorus, Piano 2006 7'
Ding Feng Bo Mixed Chorus, Piano 2004 7'
Chamber Music Works
Title Instrumentation Year Duration NCAF-funded
until after the twilight (Trio ver.) Flute, Sheng, Cello, Electronics 2017 11'
into silence, and keep falling Cello, Piano 2016 9'
across & between III 4 Traditional Thai instruments: Khim, Jakhe, Gong Wong Yai, Gong Mon 2015 8'
on a rising haze Di (Xiao), 36-Reed Sheng, Pipa, 21-String Zheng, Sanshien, Erhu I (also Treble), Erhu II (also Alto) 2015 12'
landwards, a sinking nuance Flute, Zheng, Cello, Erhu 2013 9'
…then oceanwards Chinese chamber ensemble 2012 15'
Through a Fading Autumn Erhu I (also Treble), Erhu II (also Alto), Pipa, 21-String Zheng 2010 15'
Intoning toward the Twilight Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trombone, Percussion, Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass 2009 7'
Jardin du Nord Di, 36-Reed Sheng, Pipa, 21-String Zheng, Contrabass, Erhu I (also Treble), Erhu II (also Alto) 2009 12'
…since it’s no more a landscape Alto and Bass Flutes, Guqin, String Trio 2008 15'
Under the Pines Di (Xiao), 36-Reed Sheng, Pipa, 21-String Zheng, Sanshien, Erhu I (also Treble), Erhu II (also Alto) 2008 13'
Timeless Intonation Clarinet (also Bass Clarinet), Percussion, Contrabass 2007 13'
Hovering Seaward Flute (Piccolo, Alto Flute), Grand Piano 2006 15'
The Spectrum of an Ancient Soul Di (Xiao), 36-Reed Sheng, Pipa, 21-String Zheng, Sanshien, Erhu I (also Treble), Erhu II (also Alto) 2006 8'
What’s Twinkling in the Distance Clarinet, Bassoon, Trombone, Vibraphone, Harp, Violin, Cello 2005 12'
Poems & Utterance Flute (Piccolo), Clarinet (Bass Clarinet), 2 Percussion Players, Piano, Viola, Double bass 2004 11'
The Drunk Song of Midnight Di, Erhu, Pipa, Zheng 2004 9'
The May, the White Flower Oboe, Pipa, Cello 2004 7'
16 3/4 Moons Xiao, Pipa, String Quartet 2003 12'
Solo Instrumental Works
Title Instrumentation Year Duration NCAF-funded
Two Preludes – I. Distant Birds (light-vented bulbuls) II. Winds from the other Shore Piano Solo 2020 7'
Returning Pinewards Solo Zheng 2018 13'
Vanishing Ridges, Autumn Echoes Solo Trumpet 2016 8'
As a Dying Haze Solo Alto Flute 2011 12'
Mountainwards… 21-String Zheng Solo 2010 12'
The River Bank of SummerEvening Piano Solo 2004 7'
The Contemplative Moment 21-Strings Zheng Solo 2003 8'
Electronics
Title Instrumentation Year Duration NCAF-funded
Onto the Silent Peaks Piano, Electronics 2020 13'
From Fading Mountains Erhu, Pipa, Zheng, Electronics 2018 12'
until after the twilight Flute, Accordion, Cello, Contrabass, Electronics 2017 11'
across & between II: into the chasm Electric Guitar, Small Percussion 2015 8'
Drifting Mountainwards Pipa, Electronics 2015 8'
across & between I Electric Guitar, Percussion 2014 8'
Inwards, drinking with my shadow Classical Guitar, Electronics 2014 7'
As Hovering Ashes in a QuarterMoon Cello, Live Electronics 2013 14'
d' un songe Piano, Live Electronics 2010 13'
Those Remaining Words in Nuance Soprano, Electronics 2009 9'

* link to " NCAF online Archive of Grant Fruitages "website (in Chinese)

Title Instrumentation Year Duration
From Fading Mountains Erhu, Pipa, Zheng, Electronics 2018 12'
Returning Pinewards Solo Zheng 2018 13'
in between emptiness A capella Male Chorus 2016 8'
on a rising haze Di (Xiao), 36-Reed Sheng, Pipa, 21-String Zheng, Sanshien, Erhu I (also Treble), Erhu II (also Alto) 2015 12'
landwards, a sinking nuance Flute, Zheng, Cello, Erhu 2013 9'
twilight as a drifting islet Mixed Chorus in 2 Groups 2013 8'
Ringing Winds Mixed Chorus, Piano 2012 7'