Chen Yi's sparklingly inventive variations are based on the Chinese folk song 'Awariguli,' the name of a beautiful girl from the Uygur ethnic minority in Xinjiang. This solo piano work was written during the composer's freshman year at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, and premiered by her sister Chen Min in October 1979. While the theme, 9 variations, and dramatic coda are somewhat traditional in structure, they clearly enjoy Chen Yi's fascinating mix of Western and Chinese musical ...