Joshua Ji’s PYP Playlist

Posted on October 14, 2019

Photo by Robert Leong

15-year-old Joshua Ji is the winner of the 2019 Portland Piano International / SOLO Piano Concerto Competition, presented in partnership with PYP. He will perform George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto with PYP at our Season 96 opening concert on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

We asked Joshua to share some of his favorite pieces with you as his PYP Playlist.

What is the first classical piece that you remember hearing?

My parents have told me that as a child, I would always burst into tears at the sound of Beethoven’s Für Elise. I have no idea whether they were tears of joy or tears of pain, but Für Elise made my eyes water like no other piece of classical music.

Who is your favorite classical composer? Which piece of theirs is your favorite?

In my opinion, there are countless great composers who have each composed beautiful pieces of repertoire that make picking a favorite nonsensical. However, one of my favorite pieces that I am working on right now is Chopin’s Nocturne in C Minor Op. 48 No. 1.

Which piece most inspires you?

Bela Bartok’s Bear Dance is not particularly inspiring to most people, but to me, it rings different in the ear. The repetitive notes and theme show a sort of perseverance that is fascinating.

Which piece makes you laugh?

Never as a piece made me laugh as hard as Mars, the Bringer of War from Gustav Holst’s The Planets orchestral suite. It is a complete comical masterpiece. A must-have in any fun classical playlist.

Which piece would you dance to?

If I were to dance to any classical piece, it would be Ravel’s Bolero; the steady beat would keep anybody in time.

If you could have coffee with any composer, who would it be?

If I could have coffee with any composer, it would be Beethoven in his late-40’s. We would converse solely through eye contact, seeking to understand each other without speaking a word. To observe a deaf composer compose would be beyond intriguing.

If you could play any piece with PYP, what would it be?

If I could play any piece with PYP, it would be Gershwin’s Concerto in F. I can clearly imagine myself sitting in rehearsal, going through each movement and- oh wait.

What was the last non-classical song you listened to?
The last non-classical song I listened to was the Wii Sports Theme. There is just something about that piece of music that resonates with just about everybody, a universal classic.

Who is your favorite band or musical artist? Which song of theirs is your favorite?
My favorite musical artist is Kazumi Totaka, and my favorite song of his is the Wii Sports Theme.

What is your favorite non-classical music genre?
My favorite non-classical music genre is pop.

What is the first film you remember watching whose soundtrack or score made a big impression on you?
When I first watched Interstellar, I was immediately attracted to the music. The film’s soundtrack, composed by the critically acclaimed Hans Zimmer, enhanced the movie to a new level that I had never encountered before.

What is your favorite film score?
My favorite film score of all time is John William’s score of Schindler’s List. Every single piece of the score pulls my heartstrings no matter how many times I listen to them, making the soundtrack very special to me.

What do you like to listen to in the car?
Ever since I was a young child, I’ve always listened to classical music in the car. This has been key to my growth as a classical musician, since I think it is important for all musicians to immerse themselves in music.