Scenes from a Jade Terrace is a solo piano composition by Alexina Louie

Alexina Louie

Alexina Louie, OC, FRSC is a Canadian composer of Chinese descent who has written many pieces for orchestra, as well as pieces for solo piano.-Biography:Alexina Louie was born in Vancouver and received an...

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It was written in 1988 to commemorate the opening of the new Canadian Embassy in Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

. The piece was commissioned by Jon Kimura Parker

Jon Kimura Parker

Jon Kimura Parker, OC is a Canadian pianist.- Biography :He was born in Vancouver, Canada, the son of Keiko Parker and the nephew of Edward Parker.He appeared with the Vancouver Youth Orchestra when he was five...

, who played it during his 1989 tour of Japan (the world premiere took place on March 27, 1988 at the Saskatchewan Centre for the Arts in Regina

Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...

). The piece has three movements, entitled Warriors, Memories in an Ancient Garden and Southern Sky. The second movement requires the pianist to perform extended techniques, such as hitting the strings of the piano with the hand to create a special sound effect.