Celebrating Asian Heritage Month

Since May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, it’s the perfect time to highlight a few composers of Asian descent who had made or are making significant contributions to the world of classical music. Although classical programming has focused primarily on European composers from the 19th and 20th centuries, a growing number of Asian composers are gaining recognition for their creativity, innovation, and unique musical voices.

The included composers often draw from a mix of cultural influences, often blending traditional Asian instruments and musical styles with contemporary techniques. Their work reflects a wide range of experiences and identities, offering new perspectives and expanding what classical music can be.

It goes without saying that this is by no means a complete list, and I encourage you to explore and discover more composers of Asian descent throughout the month of May. 

Tan Dun

Tan Dun is one of the most internationally recognized composers of Asian heritage, known for his innovative blending of Eastern musical traditions with Western classical forms. Born in China and trained in both Chinese and Western music, he gained global acclaim for his Oscar-winning score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and has since composed for the world’s leading orchestras and soloists. His works often incorporate unconventional instruments and theatrical elements, creating immersive and boundary-defying musical experiences.

In the WSO’s 2023/2024 season, we performed Tan Dun’s Trombone Concerto: Three Muses for Video Game, featuring Dutch trombonist Jörgen van Rijen. In this dynamic work, the soloist embodies a different muse in each movement, with each muse inspired by the sounds and characteristics of a distinct ancient Chinese instrument.

Ravi Shankar 

Ravi Shankar was a legendary Indian sitar virtuoso and composer who played a pivotal role in bringing Indian classical music to global audiences. Renowned for his collaborations with Western artists, including George Harrison of The Beatles, Shankar was instrumental in bridging Eastern and Western musical traditions. 

His work combined deep-rooted tradition with bold innovation, earning him recognition as a cultural ambassador and a key figure in the development of world music. 

Continuing his legacy, his daughter Anoushka Shankar has become one of the most recognized Indian composer-musicians worldwide, further blending Eastern and Western musical traditions. 

Joe Hisaishi 

If you grew up watching Studio Ghibli movies, you’ll instantly recognize the music of Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi. His film scores are known for their emotional depth and ability to connect with audiences around the world. His simple, gentle, and memorable melodies have earned him a place among Japan’s most beloved composers. 

In addition to film scores, Hisaishi has written works solely for orchestra and frequently appears as conductor for orchestras around the world.

As someone raised on Studio Ghibli movies, I’m particularly excited for the WSO’s upcoming concert The Music of Studio Ghibli which will feature a number of of Hisaishi’s classic scores.   

Unsuk Chin 

Though not a household name, Unsuk Chin is a major figure in contemporary classical music. Born in Seoul, South Korea and based in Berlin, Chin has become one of the most acclaimed composers of the current age for her highly complex but intriguingly often accessible music.  I personally find her music hits my brain in the weirdest, most satisfying way—like scratching an itch I didn’t even know was there. 

Unlike previous composers that have tried to blend East and West while maintaining their sounds, Unsuk Chin has said that she prefers to compose music that sounds new and unexplored.

Chin wrote her subito con forza – “suddenly, with power” – as a miniature for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. Chin has said that she is strongly influenced by Beethoven’s constant search for new directions and his creation of new challenges and new solutions in each of his significant pieces. 

Lucrecia Kasilag 

Lucrecia R. Kasilag was a name I wasn’t initially familiar with, but further reading revealed her as a pioneering composer, educator and trailblazer for Filipino music and culture. Fondly referred to as Tita King, she composed over 250 works of different genres, often integrating indigenous Filipino instruments into Western ensembles.   

Her efforts in founding the Bayanihan Folk Arts Center and her involvement with the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company were instrumental in promoting Filipino heritage on the global stage. 

In recognition of her immense contributions, Kasilag was honoured as a National Artist of the Philippines in 1989. 

Keiko Devaux 

Japanese Canadian composer Keiko Devaux’s Listening Underwater was performed at this past Winnipeg New Music Festival and the performance created the sensation of feeling like being fully submerged by sound. It was a reminder of how essential it is to hear music performed live as recordings sadly can’t recreate the sensation.   

Devaux was awarded the 2022 Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year for her piece Arras. The title refers to weaved tapestries and explores weaving her mixed cultural heritage.   

She describes it as a dialogue between her French and Japanese identities, shaped not only by her personal background but also by the influence of multiple generations.  

Vincent Ho 

Many in Winnipeg will remember Vincent Ho, the former composer-in-residence with the WSO. During his tenure, Ho was a prominent voice in the Winnipeg New Music Festival, where several of his innovative works were premiered to critical acclaim. 

A highlight of this period came in 2012, when the WSO traveled to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall. The concert opened with Ho’s percussion concerto The Shaman featuring the legendary Dame Evelyn Glennie as soloist. The work was highly praised by critics and eventually was arranged for solo percussion and Chinese orchestra.

In 2020, Ho was commissioned by the Taipei Chinese Orchestra to write a concerto for zhongruan, a four-stringed, lute-like instrument central. The resulting piece, The Water Dragon, was inspired by his daughter’s Chinese zodiac sign and reflects Ho’s deepening exploration of his Chinese heritage. 

Dinuk Wijeratne 

Dinuk Wijeratne is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian composer, conductor, and pianist whose music blends elements of Western classical, South Asian, and jazz traditions. His music often explores themes of cultural identity and cross-genre collaboration.  

Perhaps his best known work is his Concerto for Tabla and Orchestra, which broke new ground in blending Indian classical percussion with Western symphonic textures. Wijeratne is a recipient of multiple awards, including a JUNO, and continues to be a leading voice in redefining contemporary classical music. 

Russell Kunz (he/him) is the Education and Community Coordinator for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Born and raised in Winnipeg, he studied music and education at the University of Manitoba and is proud to be part of the WSO team.