Belle Chen

1376 fans

Travers les univers du classique, de l'expérimental et du monde. New Single with BBC Philharmonic March 7

With a distinctive combination of piano melodies and evocative synths, pianist-composer Belle
Chen's soundworld straddles acoustic and electronic realms. Having experimented with found
sound in an extensive crowd-sourced project during the pandemic, and created classical dedications
– such as Lullaby for Edward, a tribute to Edward Elgar – Chen's new album Ravel In The Forest is
a compelling collection of original music with subtle references to woodland adventures and French
impressionism. The 2023 recording – Chen's debut release via Platoon – sees the composer develop
her love for immersive audio, invoking striking images and stirring the imagination through her
playful pieces.

Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Chen grew up in Australia and New Zealand before moving to the UK.
She's just as influenced by travel and people as by her classical training, and her music spans
multiple genres. In fact, it's difficult to pin-point Chen's style – surely the sign of an interesting
artist – which adds a pinch of exciting, biting electronica to the lush, sometimes minimalist
melodies, of post-classical pianism.

Her performances are a feast for the senses, often combining
visual and olfactory elements to enhance the musical engagement. Now based in London, Chen
draws on emotional associations, rooting her work in time and place – as heard in her 2022 album
Years of Pilgrimage.

Like the French composer whose name is referenced in the new album Ravel In The Forest – Chen
gives importance to the space between notes. 'I like how impressionism provides just enough
information,' she says, 'My music implies; I like to leave room for the audience to fill in their own
lines.'

For Ravel In The Forest – the title also suggests 'ravel', hinting at the bringing together of
material – Chen eschewed the use of field recordings, instead making sometimes surreal
suggestions of the flora and fauna. There's no clarinet recreating a literal cuckoo (as can be heard in
Mahler's first symphony) or oboe as duck (like Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf); instead, a busy
piano flutter hints at a dragonfly, a chirruping synth line is a bird. 'I'm curious about the potential of
instruments,' reflects Chen. 'I have an intention and then transfer it to sound.'

As a multi-instrumentalist, Chen uses a variety of tools to create her desired effects, including felt
piano – an upright that has additional material to dampen the action, creating a softer, rounded tone.
Other timbres, such as plucked strings, are explored in 2019 album Departure, which was recorded
under her own label Eito Music and nominated for the Australian Music Prize in 2020. The sheet
music for Departure – including explanations of the prepared piano techniques (the term used to
describe incorporating extra elements to change the traditional piano sound) such as adding reusable
putty and a metal screw to evoke the timbre of Javanese Gamelan – was published alongside the
album.

There is an international flavour to Chen's compositions, which sometimes includes reimaginations
of folk music, such as the haunting Japanese melody, Sakura, Sakura, the Mongolian tune Baater
Tsogtyn Nagats, and Shui (Water), after the Taiwanese Dark Sky. Chen performs across the globe,
with performance highlights including the Royal Albert Hall’s Steinway Series, Milano Piano City
Midnight Main Stage, Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide, Kulturhuset Najaden Concert Hall and the
National Theatre of Korea. Chen was the first Australian artist to officially showcase at
Classical:NEXT, where she performed in 2018.

Her recent commissions and syncs include those for BBC Sounds, BBC Concert Orchestra, Gucci

Archive, London Fashion Week, Shanghai Fashion Week, and The Joffrey Ballet Chicago.
Recognised as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, Belle Chen is a
Yamaha artist.
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Top tracks

09
I Just Wanted To Tell You
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
03:39
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Fade
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
01:29
Composers: Belle Chen
01
Evening Garden (Don Giovanni) - Mozart Recomposed
Belle Chen
Evening Garden (Don Giovanni) - Mozart Recomposed
03:29
Composers: Belle Chen - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
12
Until Then
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
03:09
Composers: Belle Chen
01
Alle Mod (Piano Concerto No.4) - Beethoven Recomposed
Belle Chen
Alle Mod (Piano Concerto No. 4) - Beethoven Recomposed
03:30
Composers: Belle Chen - Ludwig van Beethoven
01
Papaya Tree: Part 1 (Stone Nest Live Session)
Belle Chen
The Stone Nest Live Session
02:20
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Elegy
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
03:54
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Lone Wolf (Sander Saarmets Meditative Rework)
Belle Chen
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
04:13
Composers: Sander Saarmets - Belle Chen
06
Aflame (Mvt. 6)
Erland Cooper
Folded Landscapes (Piano Version)
02:25
Composers: Erland Cooper
02
Deck The Halls - Belle Chen Rework
Belle Chen
A Nod to Christmas
02:28
Composers: Belle Chen - Traditional
10
Lone Cloud
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
02:07
Composers: Belle Chen
10
My Deers
Belle Chen
Ravel In The Forest
02:29
Composers: Belle Chen

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  • Discography
Albums
℗ 2024 Belle Chen
11-10-2024
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
01
Closer to Rain
Belle Chen
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
03:21
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Lone Wolf (Sander Saarmets Meditative Rework)
Belle Chen
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
04:13
Composers: Sander Saarmets - Belle Chen
03
And It Rains (Sinemis Meditative Rework)
Belle Chen
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
03:09
Composers: Belle Chen - Siné Buyuka
04
Three Birds (Bon Meditative Rework)
Belle Chen
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
05:33
Composers: Belle Chen - Bon
05
Closer (Richard Bundy Meditative Rework)
Belle Chen
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
04:31
Composers: Belle Chen - Richard Bundy
06
Kingdom Animalia (Brendan Cox Meditative Rework)
Belle Chen
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
04:54
Composers: Belle Chen
07
Whispering Tree (Felt Piano Meditative Rework)
Belle Chen
Ravel in the Forest (Meditative Reworks)
03:29
Composers: Belle Chen
Belle Chen
16-02-2024
Ravel In The Forest
01
Passages of Time
Belle Chen
Ravel In The Forest
04:12
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Kingdom Animalia
Belle Chen
Ravel In The Forest
02:57
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Three Birds
Belle Chen
Ravel In The Forest
03:12
Composers: Belle Chen
04
The Chameleon
Belle Chen
Ravel In The Forest
04:16
Composers: Belle Chen
05
The Dragonfly
Belle Chen
Ravel In The Forest
02:13
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Half A Moment
Belle Chen
Ravel In The Forest
04:08
Composers: Belle Chen
07
Closer
Belle Chen
Ravel In The Forest
03:28
Composers: Belle Chen
Access the complete album info (16 songs)
(P) 2022 Belle Chen
23-09-2022
Years of Pilgrimage
01
Perasaan
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
04:20
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Fade
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
01:29
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Terns
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
03:56
Composers: Belle Chen
04
Sandolo
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
02:58
Composers: Belle Chen
05
Quai
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
02:38
Composers: Belle Chen
06
First Sighting
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
03:19
Composers: Belle Chen
07
To Dance
Belle Chen
Years of Pilgrimage
03:05
Composers: Belle Chen
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
(P) 2021 Belle Chen
29-10-2021
The Stone Nest Live Session
01
Papaya Tree: Part 1 (Stone Nest Live Session)
Belle Chen
The Stone Nest Live Session
02:20
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Interlude: Pekarangan (Stone Nest Live Session)
Belle Chen
The Stone Nest Live Session
00:41
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Es Lilin (Stone Nest Live Session)
Belle Chen
The Stone Nest Live Session
04:20
Composers: Belle Chen - Traditional
04
Interlude: Odonata of Bali (Stone Nest Live Session)
Belle Chen
The Stone Nest Live Session
01:24
Composers: Belle Chen
05
Aquatics (Stone Nest Live Session)
Belle Chen
The Stone Nest Live Session
05:12
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Interlude: Tectonic (Stone Nest Live Session)
Belle Chen
The Stone Nest Live Session
00:58
Composers: Belle Chen
07
Interlude: Kunang-Kunang (Stone Nest Live Session)
Belle Chen
The Stone Nest Live Session
01:15
Composers: Belle Chen
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
(P) 2021 Belle Chen
25-05-2021
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
01
The Time-Travelling Siren 2013-2021
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
00:33
Composers: Belle Chen
02
At That Moment, I Felt
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
03:31
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Three Short Scenes: I. Dandelion
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
01:11
Composers: Belle Chen
04
New Dawn
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
03:05
Composers: Belle Chen
05
Three Short Scenes: III. Empty Cathedrals
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
01:18
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Elegy
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
03:54
Composers: Belle Chen
07
Reset
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: New Dawn
01:18
Composers: Belle Chen
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
(P) 2021 Belle Chen
02-04-2021
Late Night Sessions: The Storyteller
01
Let Me Tell You A Story
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: The Storyteller
01:01
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Waltz for Antonin
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: The Storyteller
03:45
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Papaya Tree: Part 1
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: The Storyteller
02:12
Composers: Belle Chen
04
Leron Leron Sinta
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: The Storyteller
03:09
Composers: Belle Chen - Traditional
05
Quasi Danzon
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: The Storyteller
03:23
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Improvisation: What Happens Next
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: The Storyteller
01:46
Composers: Belle Chen
07
Telephone
Belle Chen
Late Night Sessions: The Storyteller
02:21
Composers: Belle Chen
Access the complete album info (9 songs)
(P) 2020 Belle Chen
14-08-2020
Destinations
01
Exploration (Live at Kings Place, London / 2020)
Belle Chen
Destinations
03:25
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Tsoliin Nar Mandakh (Desert Sunrise)
Belle Chen
Destinations
02:07
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Baater Tsogtyn Nagats (Hero Tsogt's Uncle)
Belle Chen
Destinations
03:21
Composers: Belle Chen - Traditional
04
Aquatics
Belle Chen
Destinations
04:45
Composers: Belle Chen
05
Caribou (Live at Kings Place, London / 2020)
Belle Chen
Destinations
02:38
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Preludes / Book 1, L. 117: 6. Des pas sur la neige
Belle Chen
Destinations
04:38
Composers: Claude Debussy
07
Wildfire (After Bartok)
Belle Chen
Destinations
02:38
Composers: Belle Chen
Access the complete album info (13 songs)
(P) 2019 Belle Chen
01-02-2019
Departure
01
Intro
Belle Chen
Departure
02:14
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Pagi (Morning)
Belle Chen
Departure
04:09
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Shan (Mountain)
Belle Chen
Departure
02:43
Composers: Belle Chen
04
Shui (Water)
Belle Chen
Departure
03:11
Composers: Belle Chen
05
Interlude: Waterfall
Belle Chen
Departure
01:20
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Chasing the Chirinda Apalis (Remastered)
Belle Chen
Departure
02:56
Composers: Belle Chen
07
Canción To The Passing Train
Belle Chen
Departure
03:34
Composers: Belle Chen
Access the complete album info (13 songs)
(P) 2017 Belle Chen
11-10-2017
Mademoiselle
01
Prologue (After Poulenc)
Belle Chen
Mademoiselle
03:15
Composers: Belle Chen - Francis Poulenc
02
Blues
Belle Chen
Mademoiselle
03:12
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Impression of the Young Prince (After Rimsky-Korsakov)
Belle Chen
Mademoiselle
02:07
Composers: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov
04
Detour
Belle Chen
Mademoiselle
04:51
Composers: Belle Chen - Frédéric Chopin
05
Green on Black
Belle Chen
Mademoiselle
03:25
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Moon-Spotting
Belle Chen
Mademoiselle
01:24
Composers: Belle Chen - Igor Stravinsky
07
Suite Bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de lune
Belle Chen
Mademoiselle
05:55
Composers: Claude Debussy
Access the complete album info (13 songs)
(P) 2016 Belle Chen
08-09-2016
Mediterranean Sounds
01
Intro
Belle Chen
Mediterranean Sounds
00:37
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Miroirs: III. Une Barque sur l'Océan
Belle Chen
Mediterranean Sounds
07:45
Composers: Maurice Ravel
03
A Small Cafe in Nice
Belle Chen
Mediterranean Sounds
01:21
Composers: Belle Chen
04
Nocturne No. 7 in Eb Major, FP. 56
Belle Chen
Mediterranean Sounds
02:04
Composers: Francis Poulenc
05
Malaga 'Gulls
Belle Chen
Mediterranean Sounds
00:36
Composers: Belle Chen
06
Iberia: X. Malaga
Belle Chen
Mediterranean Sounds
05:03
Composers: Isaac Albéniz
07
Barcelona Rhythms
Belle Chen
Mediterranean Sounds
00:47
Composers: Belle Chen
Access the complete album info (16 songs)
EPs
(P) 2023 Belle Chen
24-11-2023
Prepared For Christmas
01
Away In A Manger (Belle Chen Rework)
Belle Chen
Prepared For Christmas
02:35
Composers: William J. Kirkpatrick
02
Carol Of The Bells (Belle Chen Rework)
Belle Chen
Prepared For Christmas
02:14
Composers: Mykola Leontovych
03
O Holy Night (Belle Chen Rework)
Belle Chen
Prepared For Christmas
01:49
Composers: Adolphe Adam
04
The River (After Smetana)
Belle Chen
Prepared For Christmas
03:18
Composers: Belle Chen
(P) 2022 Belle Chen
25-11-2022
Another Nod To Christmas
01
We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Belle Chen Rework)
Belle Chen
Another Nod To Christmas
02:03
Composers: Belle Chen - Arthur Warrell
02
Silent Night (Belle Chen Rework)
Belle Chen
Another Nod To Christmas
02:19
Composers: Belle Chen - Franz Xaver Gruber
03
In The Bleak Midwinter (Belle Chen Rework)
Belle Chen
Another Nod To Christmas
02:02
Composers: Belle Chen - Gustav Holst
04
Evening Garden (after Mozart Don Giovanni: Overture)
Belle Chen
Another Nod To Christmas
03:29
Composers: Belle Chen - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2022 SEAYOOL & Belle Chen
01-01-2022
From Ancient Songs: Taiwan
01
The Blessing
SEAYOOL
From Ancient Songs: Taiwan
04:00
Writer: Si-Youl Kim / Composers: Si-Youl Kim
02
The Festival
SEAYOOL
From Ancient Songs: Taiwan
06:19
Writer: Si-Youl Kim / Composers: Si-Youl Kim
03
The Bride
SEAYOOL
From Ancient Songs: Taiwan
03:09
Writer: Belle Chen / Composers: Belle Chen
04
The Tears
SEAYOOL
From Ancient Songs: Taiwan
04:47
Writer: Si-Youl Kim / Composers: SEAYOOL - Si-Youl Kim
05
The Nature
SEAYOOL
From Ancient Songs: Taiwan
03:29
Writer: Si-Youl Kim / Composers: SEAYOOL - Si-Youl Kim
(P) 2021 Belle Chen
03-12-2021
A Nod to Christmas
01
Jingle Bells - Belle Chen Rework (Remaster)
Belle Chen
A Nod to Christmas
03:16
Composers: Belle Chen - James Lord Pierpont
02
Deck The Halls - Belle Chen Rework
Belle Chen
A Nod to Christmas
02:28
Composers: Belle Chen - Traditional
03
Good King Wenceslas - Belle Chen Rework
Belle Chen
A Nod to Christmas
01:41
Composers: Belle Chen - Traditional
04
Alle Mod (Piano Concerto No.4) - Beethoven Recomposed
Belle Chen
A Nod to Christmas
03:30
Composers: Belle Chen - Ludwig van Beethoven
(P) 2021 Belle Chen
17-09-2021
We Shall Meet Again, Under The Moon
01
Lullaby for Edward
Belle Chen
We Shall Meet Again, Under The Moon
03:32
Composers: Belle Chen
02
Pearl Tears Shattering into a Thousand Pieces
Belle Chen
We Shall Meet Again, Under The Moon
01:43
Composers: Belle Chen
03
Moon Spotting 2: Steps to Countdown
Belle Chen
We Shall Meet Again, Under The Moon
02:35
Composers: Belle Chen
04
The Moon Represents My Heart (Arr. by Belle Chen)
Belle Chen
We Shall Meet Again, Under The Moon
03:24
Composers: Weng Ching-hsi