林知常

Zhichang Lin

Composer, pianist and improviser

Biography

Born in 1999, Guangzhou(Canton), China, Zhichang Lin is a composer pursuing a Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Morgan Hayes. He had also studied with Dr. Amao Wang and Prof. Xiaoyong Chen at Xinghai Conservatory of Music in China. His works have been performed internationally, including in the UK, US, China, and Canada.Delving into acoustic instrumental chamber music, Zhichang’s compositions display a deep engagement with the interplay between material and structure, featuring vast sonic landscapes shaped by timbral experimentation. His works also reflect an interest in shaping the listener’s perception of form and time.A recent highlight is Spiral, Instant and Rain, a mixed sextet premiered by the Riot Ensemble in London, in which he explores the interactivity between timbral coordination and rhythmic complexity. The piece illustrates a linear progression through which multiple identical materials are continually reshaped and interlaced in abstraction.Zhichang is currently working on a bass flute solo piece commissioned by the Boston New Music Initiative, which is to be premiered in May 2025.

Photo: Charlotte Levy

Compositions

Spiral, Instant and Rain - for six players

Conductor: Aaron Holloway-NahumPremiered by the Riot Ensemble in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on April 25th, 2025.


P - for piano and percussions

Pianist: Hayden Miller
Percussionist: Guozhi LongPremiered in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on April 23rd, 2025.

It has long been my wish to compose for piano and percussion, which are two very special sounds that shaped my childhood. I started my musical journey as a pianist, then joined a local youth orchestra as a percussionist, and eventually decided to become a composer in my university. These two instruments (or sound types?) are in some ways so alike, but vastly different. This is where the greatest fun and challenge in composing this piece lay.I titled it P to propose a space for free interpretations. It is a piece for Piano and Percussion, of which the sound world I would describe as “Penetrating” and “Playful.”

Maul - for bass flute, bass clarinet, violin and violoncello

Premiered by the CHROMA Ensemble in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on April 22nd, 2025.

The title of this piece has a very similar pronunciation to a word in my mother language Chinese, 蛮[mán],  which often refers to something barbaric or untamed. This coincidence sparked the initial inspiration for the work.The sonic world is shaped by rough air sounds, scraping textures, and percussive attacks, with very limited pitched elements. The compositional concept primarily focuses on the development and transformation of a set of materials, which are continuously reorganised to form the structure and progression of the music.

Rift - for flute, bass clarinet, horn, violin and violoncello (2024)

Conductor: Alexander PappPremiered in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall of the Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on October 10th, 2024.


Without Words (无词) - for soprano and eight players (2024)

Performed by the Riot EnsembleRecorded in a workshop session led by Hans Abrahamsen in the David Josefowitz Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on June 14th.


Veiled Whispers - for flute, clarinet, horn, violoncello and piano (2024)

Conductor: Zhichang Lin
Flute: Simon Kelly
Clarinet: Lucia Porcedda
Horn: Nivanthi Karunaratne
Cello: Oona Lowther
Piano: Andrew ZhaoPremiered in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on April 24th, 2024.


A Musical Depiction of Respective - for clarinet, cello and piano (2024)

Midi Rendering


Metamorphosis (Graphic Score) - for mixed ensemble (2024)

Performed by the Riot EnsemblePremiered in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on May 5th, 2024.


Mirror - for flute and percussion (2020)


Eclipse - for orchestra (2024)

Recorded in a workshop session in the Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, in October, 2024


Suite:Scroll by Vincent Van Gogh - for orchestra (2022)

Midi Rendering


Lumen - for bass flute solo (2025)


Polygon - for Steingraeber transducer piano (2025)

Pianist: Zhichang LinPremiered in the Concert Room, Royal Academy of Music on January 15th, 2025


Perspectives of Schoenberg - for piano solo (2024)

Pianist: Hayden MillerPremiered in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on June 19th, 2024


Nostalgia - for harp and electronics (2024)

Harp: Bonnie ScottPremiered in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on April 23rd, 2024.


Xun (汛) - for bass clarinet solo (2024)


Hebo (河伯) - for cello solo (2024)

Cellist: Yijia Fang 方义嘉Premiered at the Chime Bell Hall of Wuhan Conservatory of Music, Wuhan, China, on December 4th, 2023.


Two Miniatures - for piano solo (2021)


Acrobatics (百戏) - for piano solo (2019)


Contented River - for voice and piano (2025)

Soprano: Sarah Marze
Pianist: Tiffany QiuPremiered in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, on January 13th, 2024.


A Chinese Poem:Dreams of the lost Central Plain
(贺新郎,送胡邦衡待制赴新州)
-for soprano and piano (2021)

Congratulations to the Bridegroom
by ZHANG Yuangan (1091-1161 Song Dynasty)Haunted by dreams of the lost Central Plain,
I hear the autumn wind complain.
From tent to tent horns dreary blow;
In ancient palace weeds o'ergrow.
How could Mount Pillar suddenly fall down
And Yellow River overflow the town,
A thousand villages overrun with foxes and hares?
We can't question the heaven high;
The court will soon forget humiliating affairs.
'Tis sad and drear
To say good-bye
At Southern Rier.
Cold breath of river willows flies away
The remnant heat of summer day.
The Milky Way slants low;
Past pale moon and sparse stars clouds slowly go.
Mountains and rivers stretch out of view.
O where shall I find you?
I still remember our talking at dead
Of night while we two lay in bed.
But now wild geese can't go so far.
Who will send my letters where you are?
I gaze on azure sky,
Thinking of the hard times gone by.
Can we have but personal love or hate
As beardless young men often state?
Hold up a cup of wine
And hear this song of mine!

《贺新郎·梦绕神洲路》
【宋】张元干梦绕神州路。怅秋风、连营画角，故宫离黍。
底事昆仑倾砥柱。九地黄流乱注。
聚万落、千村狐兔。天意从来高难问，况人情老易悲如许。
更南浦，送君去。
凉生岸柳催残暑。耿斜河、疏星淡月，断云微度。
万里江山知何处。回首对床夜语。雁不到、书成谁与。
目尽青天怀今古，肯儿曹、恩怨相尔汝。
举大白，听金缕。