Frederick Hanna, chair of Creighton’s Fine Arts Department, described his recent international achievements in symphonic composition, as well as his numerous trips to China that provided the necessary inspiration, in a recent lecture for the Asian World Center.
Hanna’s deep musical relationship with China began in 2007 while on sabbatical. While it was his intention to use the time to begin working on his first symphony, it “simply didn’t happen.”
Instead, Hanna used his sabbatical time to compose a number of short wind ensemble pieces that brought him overseas to the city of Nanjing.
It was this trip that provided Hanna with just the kind of inspiration he was looking for in a quest to compose his first original symphony.
“I can’t write about a place I’ve never been,” Hanna said during the Aug. 28 lecture.
He said his numerous trips to China and India are an essential part of the kind of research and cultural immersion that gives his arrangements their unique popularity.
“They expected Chinese folk tunes, or something more in line with their Eastern style,” Hanna said. “Instead, I gave them an American’s impression of China from a perspective that still represented my musical background.”
Hanna explained that while the whole concept of the symphony is almost exclusive to western music, it is very well-received and highly-respected in Chinese culture.
“They treat me like a rock star,” Hanna said.
While there are clear differences in intonation and instrumentation between eastern and western music, Hanna explained that he has found little difficulty working with musicians from around the world.
“Seventy-five to eighty percent spoke English, so there were no interpreters needed during my most recent visit,” Hanna said. “It really doesn’t differ too much from the kinds of instruction and conducting done here in Creighton’s Fine Arts department.”
Hanna’s “China Through Music” series is set to be comprised of five symphonies for
orchestra. Each symphony is dedicated and named according to the region of travel that provided him with a particularly memorable blend of experience and emotions.
In 2010, Hanna completed his first symphony dedicated to the city of Nanjing. Last May, he was given the honor of conducting the performance of his own arrangement with the help of the Nanjing Arts Institute.
In 2012, he completed his second symphony dedicated to the city of Shanghai. Arrangements are being made to have Hanna conduct his second composition with an orchestra from the region. His third symphony, while it is still in the early stages, will be dedicated to Beijing.
Symphonies four and five are set to be dedicated to Tibet and Taiwan, respectively. However, while reaching Tibet for the necessary research might pose some roadblocks, Hanna was hopeful it would happen.
“Dr. Hanna is currently the only person in the world to have established such a strong and unique musical relationship with China through this symphony series,” Asian World center director Marong Jiang said.
Both Hanna and Marong continued success in their musical partnerships with the Chinese that eventually a definitive eastern symphonic style can be established.