Watch: The CCM Wind Symphony performs guest composer Viet Cuong's 'Re(new)al'

The UC College-Conservatory of Music's concert series continued on Nov. 1 with a performance by the CCM Wind Symphony presenting multiple pieces by guest composer Viet Cuong, who is one of the most inventive voices in the wind repertoire.

The centerpiece of the concert was Cuong’s piece Re(new)al, a concerto for percussion quartet that celebrates the innovations of renewable energy. The four soloists use crystal glasses, a single snare drum, compressed air cans and more to evoke three sources of renewable energy: hydro, wind and solar.

CCM's performance of Re(new)al is now available for on-demand viewing. CCM faculty member Kevin Michael Holzman conducts. The performance was recorded in Corbett Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.

Hailed as “alluring” and “wildly inventive” by the New York Times, Cuong’s music is played by Grammy-winning orchestras and the world’s pre-eminent wind ensembles. Celebrated for his innovative and whimsical approach to instrumentation, ranging from cello octets to wine glasses and sandpaper, Cuong’s music conjures up enchanting sound worlds that defy easy categorizations.

“Cooperation and synergy are … core themes of the piece, as I believe we all have to work together to move forward,” writes Cuong in a program note for Re(new)al. “All of the music played by the solo quartet is comprised of single musical ideas that are evenly distributed between the four soloists …the music would therefore be dysfunctional without the presence and dedication of all four members.”

“I knew I wanted to program Re(new)al to feature our fantastic percussion studio at CCM,” says Holzman. “It is a relatively new piece for percussion quartet and winds, and is a true creative masterpiece.”

The Wind Symphony's November 1 concert was the culmination of Cuong’s recent visit to CCM, during which he coached the Wind Symphony, CCM Musica Nova and the Youth Wind Ensemble on their interpretations of his pieces.

This CCM OnStage Archives video was produced by CCM Recording Productions, with music recording and mixing by Michael Hughes, TTL Audio. CCM Recording Productions is an in-house video production entity that plans a season of live streams, promotional videos, short documentaries and concert recordings showcasing CCM students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Featured image at top: The CCM Wind Symphony performs with a percussion quartet in Corbett Auditorium. Photo taken from the video recording of CCM's concert on Nov. 1, 2024.