Kui Dong (born 1966)
Kui Dong was born in Beijing and studied composition at the Central Conservatory of Music, where she was exposed to a mix of backgrounds in western music and Chinese folk music and opera. She continued her studies at Stanford, where she was able to experiment with electronic music and explore compositional philosophy with György Ligeti.
Kui Dong’s music is a complex mix of western influences, Chinese music, jazz, and other ethnic music. She has composed music for orchestras and chamber ensembles, as well as opera and ballet. She has also written a novel.
There is no typical Kui Dong composition. This 2017 composition A Night at Tanglewood for string quartet, water glasses, and music box was commissioned by the Tanglewood Music Center, and has elements of ritual as well as fascinating sonic contrasts: