Premiere of "Three Trails of the Chinese Countryside" by John Mallinson Youth Band

Tony Gu
Oct 4, 2025
2 min read

On 4th of October 2025, I had the privilege of working with the John Mallinson Youth Band in its Rhapsody in Blue concert. I was involved in conducting Jean-Baptiste Arban’s Variations on “The Carnival of Venice”, featuring a euphonium solo by Mr Joseph Yu, as well as my own composition Three Trails of the Chinese Countryside, featuring a hulusi solo by Ms Anna Li.

Three Trails of the Chinese Countryside extends this spirit of musical exchange by placing the hulusi within a Western wind ensemble. This three-movement work portrays the vibrant landscapes of rural China. The first movement celebrates the festivities of spring’s arrival. The second offers a gentler reflection, depicting the countryside nourished by seasonal rains. The final movement bursts with energy, as if thunder and lightning awaken the land to the warmth of late spring.

Thank you to all the players who worked incredibly hard for this concert. Special thanks to Mr Ray Liang, who appeared as a guest soloist for the concert’s main work, Rhapsody in Blue.

Links to the concert event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2620193654989039/

Links to the score: https://musescore.com/user/3443166/scores/28162828