Composer Lei Liang's New Album, "Dui"

Released on Islandia Music Records, the album includes collaborations between pipa, percussion, and more

Chinese-born American composer Lei Liang has released his newest album, Dui, on Islandia Music Records. The album's title Dui, 對, means “to face,” and stages instruments and performances together as distant worlds.

The new album features performances by cellist Maya Beiser, the founder of Islandia Music Records, Wu Man (pipa), Steven Schick (percussion), Cho-Liang Lin (violin), Zhe Lin (percussion), Mark Dresser (contrabass), and loadbang (Andy Kozar, trumpet; William Lang, trombone; Carlos Cordeiro, bass clarinet; Jeffrey Gavett, baritone).

Lei Liang juxtaposes unique combinations of instruments, pairing the pipa with percussion, violin with percussion, as well as the innovative techniques of the contrabass.

Liang shares, “Composing offers me a chance to explore and foster deeply personal relationships, including the relationship with my own cultural and spiritual heritage. It also presents me the opportunity to face seemingly insurmountable challenges. Who am I without my cultural heritage and without my friendships? I like to think of my music as the ultimate tribute to the past and present bonds that have shaped my life and given it meaning. All of the works on this album were written for and performed by artists who have inspired me. The challenge in composing each piece, however, is unique.”

To purchase and listen to the album, click here.

Listen to Lei Liang's previous work, Six Seasons below:

Islandia Music Records is an independent record label founded by cellist and producer Maya Beiser, known for her avant-garde approach as a soloist. As a platform for self-expression and artistic adventures, Island Music Records collaborates between the old and the new.