(b Puli, 9 Sept 1945). Taiwanese composer and music educator. He graduated from the National Taiwan University (1967–71) then studied composition with Lehmann at the Musikhochschule and Musikakademie in Zürich (1974–6); he continued his studies with Helmut Lachenmann at the Hochschule für Musik and Theater in Hanover (1976–8) and with Isang Yun at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin (1978–80). Upon his return to Taiwan he became professor of music and composition at the National Institute of the Arts in Taibei and founded the Modern Music Centre there in 1984. This organization became the kernel of the Taiwan branch of the ISCM, which Pan co-founded with Wen Longxin and Zeng Xingkui in 1989.
While making use of the entire array of modernist and avant-garde techniques, Pan's music is often inspired by Chinese philosophical or mythical concepts. Hudiemeng (1979) and Du, ein sterblicher, unnützer Mensch (1981) are based on texts by the Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi. Yijing (1995–6) makes use of the Classic of Changes (also an inspiration to Cage), while Penglai (1978) is a sonic depiction of a Chinese paradise. His compositions series Yin-Yang (1992–5) and Wuxing shengke (1979–86) are based on the Chinese philosophy of change in which all parts of the cosmos are said to be in constant flux. These works depict the permutations of the five primary elements as they successively produce and destroy each other: movement generates new movement, or is destroyed by new movement. Each motif is subjected to constant metamorphosis: change may occur in sound colour, texture, structure, dynamics or metre.
(selective list)
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Orch: Fengqiao yebo [Night-Mooring near a Maple Bridge], 1974; Metempsychose, 5 solo str, orch, 1977, rev. 1979; Penglai [Paradise], 1978; Liyun Datong [Harmony of the World]: I, 1987, arr. sym. band, 1987–8, III, 1990; Conc., vc, chbr orch, 1996–7; Conc., vc, 13 insts, 1996–7 |
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Chbr: Lässt mich allein, hp, timp, db, pf, 1976; Niaokan [Bird's-Eye View], mar, vib, 1977; Str Qt no.2, 1977; Hudiemeng [Transformation], fl, cl, perc, 2 vc, 1979; Yinguo [Cause and Effect], fl, (vc/b cl), pf, 1979; Yinguo, ww ens, 1979; Enlightenment, 2 fl, hp, vc, db, 1979; Qidai [Expectation], ob, cl, bn, 1980; Rondo, pf trio, 1980; Cl Qt, 1980–81; Str Qt no.3, 1981, rev. 1983; Bachcab, vc, pf, 1984–5; Zhuangyan de xixi [Majestic Game], perc ens, 1985; [5] Dialogues, 6 trad. Chin. insts, 1991; Yijing [Classic of Changes], bamboo fl, pipa, huqin, perc, 1995–6; Totem and Taboo, 6 perc, 1996; East and West, Chin. wind inst, ob, va, zheng, hp, 1998 |
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Solo inst: Liuyue moli [White Jasmine in June], pf, 1976; Guodu [Interim], vn, 1978; Pictures from Childhood, pf, 1983–4; Solo I, hp, 1998 |
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Farewell, chorus, 1971; Du, ein sterblicher, unnützer Mensch, was weisst du denn? (Zhuangzi), Bar, vc, hp, perc, pf, 1981; Suoyi yi daole wanshang [And So Comes the Night] (Ya Xun), 1v, orch/chbr orch/pf, 1986 |
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Qian huai [Expelling Yearnings]: I, fl, pf, 1975; II, db, 1976; III, vc, 1976; IV, org/(trbn, pf), 1976 |
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Wuxing shengke [Elements of Change]: I, 8 pfmrs, 1979–80; II, orch, 1981–2; III, 16 insts, 5 assistant insts, 1986 |
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Yuan, Juese, Wanhuatong [Kaleidoscope], pfmr(s): I, 1986–7; II, 1988; III, 1995 |
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Taiwan fengqing [Formosa Landscape]: cl, vc, pf, 1987, rev. 1993; fl ens, I, 1987, rev. 1988, II, 1987, rev. 1992; orch, 1987, rev. 1995; str/str qt, 1987, rev. 1990; wind qnt, 1987 |
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Labyrinth Promenade: I, hp(s), 1988; II, trbn(s), 1989; III, zheng(s), 1992; pipa, zheng, 1992, rev. 1994; huqin, (pipa, yangqin)/(bamboo fls)/(bamboo fls, yangqin), 1992, rev. 1997; 5 trad. Chin. insts, 1992, rev. 1997; IV, pipa(s), 1994; V, huqin(s), 1997; VI, di(s)/xiao(s), 1997; VII, yangqin(s), 1997; VIII, fl(s), 1998; IX, cl(s), 1998; X, vn(s), 1998; XI, vc(s), 1998; (fl, vc)/(cl, vn)/(fl, vc, hp)/(cl, vn, hp)/(fl, cl, hp, vn, vc), 1998 |
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Yin-Yang: I (Pan), nar, chorus, 14 insts, 1992; II (Pan, Zhao Yuanren), nar, chorus, wind qnt, 1992; III, pf qt, 1993; IV (Zhao), nar, chorus, tubular bells, 1993; V (Pan, Zhao), nar, chorus, 14 insts, 1994; VI (Pan, Zhao), female chorus, 3 perc, 1995; VII, 14 insts, 1995; VIII (Pan, Zhao), nar, chorus, 1995; IX (Pan), nar, chorus, 14 insts, 1995 |
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MSS in C.C. Liu Collection, Institute of Chinese Studies, U. of Heidelberg |
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Principal publishers: Bote & Bock, Bosse, Council for Cultural Affairs (Taibei) |
Modern Music's Focus (Taibei, 1987)
Let's Appreciate Contemporary Music (Taibei, 1990)
Fresh Inspiration from Chinese Culture for my Musical Composition (Taibei, 1993)
KdG (Schu-chi Lee)
Zhao Ronglin: ‘Reushi women de znoqujia: Pan Huanglong’ [Get to know our composers: Pan Huanglong], Yinyue yu yinxiang, no.169 (1987), 90–93
Liang Maochun: ‘Zheli zhi hua: Taiwan zuoqujia Pan Huanglong de yinyue’ [A philosophical flower: the music of Taiwanese composer Pan], Music from China Radio, no.3 (1996), 16–17
Luo Zhongrong, ed.: Xiandai yinyue xinshang cidian [Dictionary for the appreciation of new music] (Beijing, 1997), 395–6
B. Mittler: Dangerous Tunes: the Politics of Chinese Music in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China since 1949 (Wiesbaden, 1997), esp. 327–8
Liu Ching-chih: Zhongguo xin yinyue shilun [Essays on Chinese new music], ii (Taibei, 1998), 710–11
BARBARA MITTLER