Tsung-Hsien Yang's compositional style and his Sonata for Violin and Piano

The research conducted on Tsung-Hsien Yang's compositions provides a general description of the composer's musical style following a brief description of Taiwan's social and cultural history. Information from other research papers on the composer as well as interviews conducted by the author, concise descriptions of every composition and a short biography are presented. The analysis of his compositional output is divided into three periods according to the changes in his surroundings and influences.; The Sonata for Violin and Piano was examined analytically with regard to its structure, melodic motives and rhythmic ideas. In addition, the study explored the composer's personal statement in the Violin Sonata---his "subtext" and philosophy as expressed through musical means. In the last chapter, some recommendations are given with regard to performing the piece as related to individual instrument technique as well as the ensemble.