Reimagined Soundscapes: Echoes Across Cultures

A Piano Recital by Helena Aung

16^th August 2025 | 16:00 hrs.

Steinway Thailand is delighted to present an evocative piano recital by accomplished pedagogue and pianist, Helena Aung. Titled Reimagined Soundscapes: Echoes Across Cultures, this recital weaves together musical interpretations of the timeless literature “Phra Abai Mani” penned by the legendary Thai Poet Sunthorn Phu — The Bard of Rattanakosin, and “I-Nao”, a story of love and complexity of human adapted from the Javanese tales and majestically re-imagined to theatrical script by H.M. King Rama II. This program also features contemporary classical works by Martin Bresnick, with guest artist Xun Xu on Violin.

Join us to witness this beautiful juxtaposition through the universal language of music on the finest Steinway piano.

Program

Phra Abai Mani

Denny J. Euprasert, b. 1969

I. The Two Brothers

II. The Mermaid

III. Wonder Island

IV. The Orgress

V. Princess of the East

VI. The Two Sons

VII. Lament

VIII. The Dragon House

IX. The Hermit

X. Princess of the Western Isle

Helena Aung, Piano

Bitter Suite

Martin Bresnick, b. 1946 (Thailand premiere)

 I. Oyfn Veg (On the Road)

II. Mayn Rue Plats (My Resting Place)

III. Chorny Kot / Shvartse Kats (Black Cat)

IV. Dona, Dona

Helena Aung, Piano

Xun Xu, Guest Violinist

The Three Perspectives of I-Nao

Narongrit Dhamabutra, b.1962

I. I-Nao & Bussaba & The Bats

II. I-Nao- Bussaba at the Puppet Show

III. I-Nao’s Wedding

Helena Aung, Piano

Program Notes

Phra Abhai Mani

Denny J. Euprasert (b. 1967)
Dr. Denny Euprasert is a renowned Thai jazz pianist, composer, and educator. He is the Dean of the Conservatory of Music at Rangsit University and Director of the RSU Jazz Orchestra. A recipient of Thailand’s Silpathorn Contemporary Artist Award, Dr. Euprasert holds advanced degrees in jazz and composition from the University of Northern Colorado and the University of North Texas. His music has been performed internationally, and he is highly regarded for his contributions to jazz education and performance.

Phra Abhai Mani is a ten-movement piano suite inspired by Thailand’s most iconic epic poem of the same name, written by the beloved national poet Sunthorn Phu (1786–1855). Often called the “Shakespeare of Thailand,” Phu crafted a fantastical and emotionally rich narrative centered on Prince Phra Abhai Mani—a hero whose magical flute can soothe, charm, and even destroy.

In this imaginative suite, Euprasert reinterprets the poem’s vivid characters and dramatic episodes through a contemporary musical lens, blending classical forms with the colors and rhythms of jazz. The influence of jazz is evident in the suite’s harmonic language, rhythmic vitality, and moments of improvisatory freedom—reflecting the composer’s dual background in classical and jazz music.

Each of the ten short movements portrays different scenes or characters, from sea creatures and sorcerers to moments of love, war, and introspection. The result is a vibrant musical storytelling experience that fuses Thai literary tradition with a modern global sound.

The work was premiered by Dr. Ramasoon Sitalayan at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok in 2019.

Bitter Suite for Violin and Piano

Martin Bresnick (b. 1946)
Martin Bresnick is a New York–born composer whose music spans opera, chamber and orchestral works, film scores, and experimental pieces. A professor of composition at the Yale School of Music, he studied with György Ligeti, John Chowning, and Gottfried von Einem. Critics have noted how Bresnick’s music “reconciles the seemingly irreconcilable” by combining minimalist gestures with harmonies ranging from highly chromatic to openly consonant. His works have earned numerous honors, including the Rome Prize, the Berlin Prize, and the first Charles Ives Living Award.

Background and conception

Bitter Suite is a duo for violin and piano commissioned by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Eastern European Jewish culture. The title plays on the words “suite” and “bittersweet”; Bresnick described the project as a “challenging yet touching way to remain in contact with some part of his past that he doesn’t usually reveal.” Each of its four movements reimagines a Yiddish folk song or poem, deconstructing and re-contextualizing the tunes to expand their emotional and historical resonance.

Overview of the movements

I. Oyfn Veg (On the Road)
The opening movement is based on Itsik Manger’s song “Oyfn Veg.” According to resistance leader Marek Edelman, a Jewish fighter in the burning Warsaw Ghetto sang this song while trying to escape. Bresnick captures the horror by juxtaposing fragile melodic fragments with violent outbursts, evoking the flames and desperation of the 1943 uprising.

II. Mayn Rue Plats (My Resting Place)
Drawing on Morris Rosenfeld’s poem, this movement depicts brutal sweatshop conditions through relentless polyrhythms and chromatic harmonies, with moments of lyrical respite quickly undercut by mechanical ostinatos.

III. Chorny Kot / Shvartze Kats (Black Cat) 
A scherzo-like movement based on a playful song about a black cat harassed because of her fur color. The music mimics feline antics with scampering violin lines and brittle piano figures, while subtly reminding us of the cruelty of superstition.

IV. Dona Dona 
The final movement contemplates fate and freedom, portraying a calf led to market while a bird flies free above. The folk tune appears midway through the movement, which ends abruptly, mirroring the unanswered question of destiny. Bresnick dedicated this movement to violinist Elly Toyoda

The Three Perspectives of I-Nao

Narongrit Dhamabutra (b. 1962)
Dr. Narongrit Dhamabutra is one of Thailand’s leading contemporary composers, known for blending Western classical forms with Thai musical elements. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from Michigan State University and has composed for over 30 years. His works have been performed by major ensembles worldwide, including the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Japan Shinsei Symphony, IRCAM Ensemble, and Melbourne Symphony. He currently serves as Head of Composition at Chulalongkorn University and was named Thailand’s National Artist in 2021. Inspired by the Thai adaptation of the Panji tales, The Three Perspectives of I-Nao explores scenes from the courtly romance between Prince I-Nao and Princess Bussaba. Composed in 2019, this three-movement piano work blends Thai traditional motifs with Western compositional techniques to create a vivid sonic narrative.

I. I-Nao & Bussaba & The Bats
I-Nao & Bussaba & The Bats uses sonata-allegro form with themes representing I-Nao and Bussaba. Extended techniques such as string-striking and cluster chords evoke fluttering bats, enhanced by the Thai folk song Khangkhao Kin Kluay (“Bats Eating Bananas”).

II. I-Nao and Bussaba at the Puppet Show 
I-Nao and Bussaba at the Puppet Show draws on the Javanese Gamelan-inspired pelog scale and pentatonic colors. The movement mimics a shadow puppet performance with gamelan-like textures and transformed themes reflecting Bussaba’s disguise.

III. I-Nao’s Wedding
I-Nao’s Wedding celebrates the tale’s culmination with lively dance rhythms and intertwined themes. The movement concludes with a poignant codetta representing Princess Chintara’s sorrow, ending in a delicate fade reminiscent of Romantic-era gestures by Schumann and Liszt.

The work exemplifies Thailand’s unique fusion of literary heritage, musical tradition, and contemporary expression. It was premiered by Dr. Ramasoon Sitalayan at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok in 2019.

Performers

Helena Aung, Piano

Helena Aung is a pianist originally from Thailand, currently serving on the piano faculty at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Aung holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

As a prizewinner of the 2011 Bangkok Chopin Piano Competition, Aung has earned numerous prestigious scholarships throughout her career, including the Yamaha Artist Scholarship and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Classical Music Foundation Scholarship. She has performed extensively as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, frequently collaborating with violinist Xun Xu. Additionally, Aung is passionate about exploring new music and regularly works with composers to premiere contemporary works.

Aung’s dissertation, titled “Martin Bresnick’s Piano Compositions: An Analysis and Performance Guide,” was published in the MTNA (Music Teacher National Association) e-journal in April 2023.

In addition to her performances and research, Aung is a dedicated educator. Her students have achieved success at both national and international levels, and she continually adapts her teaching methods to meet the individual needs of her students, promoting their growth and development in the competitive world of piano performance. She explored innovative teaching ideas and online platforms through her newly established Innovative Piano Program.

As a pedagogue, Aung has given masterclasses at institutions and festivals in Canada, India, Thailand, United States, including the University of Ozarks, the Brillante Piano Festival, and TP Music School.

Over the course of her career, Aung has had the privilege of working with renowned artists such as Jura Margulis, Martin Bresnick, Lisa Moore, Jeongwon Ham, Behzod Abduraimov, Yoonie Han, Thomas Hecht, Albert Tiu, Dmitri Ratser, Ratko Delorko, Gustavo Romero, Roberto Plano, Pierre Réach, Michael Lewin, Antonina Dragan, Liza Stepanova, Scott McBride Smith, and Steven Spooner, which greatly reinforced her artistic growth.

Aung served on the jury for the 2025 Canadian Music Competition, the most respected platform for emerging Canadian talent. She also lends her expertise to international events such as the Charleston International Music Competition and the New York Open Music Festival, demonstrating her ongoing dedication to nurturing the next generation of musicians around the world.

Learn more about Helena Aung, please visit Helenaaung.com

Xun Xu, Violin

Xun Xu is originally from China, earned first prize and the Outstanding Musicality Special Prize at the 2023 Bach International Music Competition, and was also awarded first prize at the Charleston International Baroque Music Competition. His artistry has been recognised through residencies at institutions such as the Boulder Bach Festival and South Dakota State University, where he served as Patricia Pierce Visiting Artist in Residence.

Xu currently serves as Concertmaster of the Vancouver Chamber Orchestra and has been invited as concertmaster for productions ranging from the world premiere of the opera The Highest Yellow to Broadway-style shows like She Loves Me. He has also led the Ravnan String Quartet and held principal and section positions with ensembles including the China Youth Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and the Peking Sinfonietta.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Xu has performed in major concert halls across Canada, China, and the United States. Recent highlights include recitals at the Steinway & Sons Piano Gallery in Austin, Solo appearance with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Campus Orchestra, and collaborations with pianist Helena Aung.

Dedicated to the next generation of musicians, Xu has taught at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, served as a Visiting Artist at Orpheus Academy of Music in Austin, and now directs his own Seed Violin Studio in Vancouver. He serves on juries for competitions such as the Charleston International Music Competition, and the NMTA Music Competition.

Xu holds a Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance from the China Conservatory of Music and earned both his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Violin Performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

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LOCATION

Steinway & Sons Showroom
#1F-04 Gaysorn Center, 1^st Floor
999 Phloen Chit Rd., Lumpini, Bangkok

For your information and etiquette
- This is a free-seating event.
- Strictly no liquids or food should be brought into the showroom.
- Kindly maintain decorum upon entry and be conscious of your belongings (e.g., bags, rings, watches, cameras) around the instruments. 
- During the performance, kindly wait for the conclusion of a piece or an intermission to enter the audience seating area. 
- Parking validation has to be done directly with the Gaysorn Concierge.