Chinese-born American composer Lei Liang’s new album, “String Quartets: Live”, offers a compelling window into his deepest sources of inspiration. The collection features five distinct works performed live by four of today’s most acclaimed ensembles: the Brentano, JACK, Mivos, and Formosa Quartets. A read through the details of Liang’s previous works reveal a fascinating composer who is unafraid to tackle environmental and highlight human rights issues, such as sex trafficking across the US-Mexican border (chamber opera “Cuatro Corridos”) and gun violence (chamber opera “Inheritance”).
His profound reverence for the musical cultures that have shaped his voice, including the traditional music of Mongolia, is also evident in the vast scope of this album. This includes abstract impressions of a Mongolian fiddle player in Serashi Fragments and the vibrant sonic landscapes drawn from Taiwanese Aboriginal songs in Song Recollections. Listen to the album’s second track, “Gobi Gloria,” performed by the JACK Quartet, which features a Mongolian melody.
Each piece highlights Liang’s ability to draw from tradition while creating something entirely new, powerfully realised by the iconic instrumentation of the string quartet. Liang’s musical curiosity is clearly matched only by his depth of connection.
String Quartest: Live (October 17th, 2025) New Focus Recordings
Pre-Order via Bandcamp: https://newfocusrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/string-quartets-live