The Yin Yang Collective – China-West mixed ensembleThe Silk String Quartet & Chamber Music CompanyThe Yin Yang Collective is the UK 's first long-term collaborative ensemble fusing Western and Chinese instruments and traditions. The Collective is also a platform for developing new work on Chinese and western themes. The core instruments are Chinese pipa , guzheng , yangqin , erhu with Western piano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet combining to present a new perspective on east and west. The Yin Yang music collaboration has already performed at the inauguration of China Telecom ( Europe ) Ltd. in London and at Cambridge Dragon International in Autumn 2006. The project will feature at the Second Glance Festival in May 2007. See www.chambermusiccompany.com This is a high-profile China-West fusion music project with multi-media presentations and will be ready to present by the end of 2007. It features the Silk Strings and Matthew Barley ( www.matthewbarley.com ) “one of the most talented young cellists” (Leonard Bernstein, 1986) with hi-tech video images intertwined with the music. The musicians will challenge their classical/traditional instruments by using electronic versions of the pipa , guqin and cello for some pieces. There will be improvisations and specially commissioned music. Partnership/sponsor: Asian Music Circuit ( www.amc.org.uk ) The Silk String Quartet with Matthew Barley |
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‘Monkey – Journey to The West' – An Opera-circus spectacular The musicians of the UK Chinese Ensemble have been working with Theatre/opera Director Mr Chen Shizheng (pictured right, based in New York) and Damon Albarn (picture left, Blur front singer) on the music for ‘Monkey – Journey to The West' – one of the best-known 16 th century Chinese classic novel by Wu Cheng'en. Monkey: Journey to the West is a boundary-breaking new circus-opera, based on a Chinese literary classic, bringing together leading artists from the worlds of East and West. This epic journey of enlightenment will be retold through circus, martial arts and music. It is written, adapted and directed by Chinese theatre and opera director Chen Shizheng. Damon Albarn is writing the musical score, with visual concept and animation by Jamie Hewlett . Albarn and Hewlett are the artists behind the award-winning animated band, Gorillaz. The spectacular and innovative production will feature 45 Chinese circus acrobats, Shaolin martial artists, Beijing Opera actors and singers. In addition, it will feature 15 Chinese and western musicians. Adapted from a 16 th century novel by Chinese writer Wu Cheng'en, Monkey tells the story of a devoted monk, Tripitaka, and his three companions, Friar Sandy, Pigsy and the Monkey King who travel westwards to India on a quest to recover sacred Buddhist texts. Their adventures are an invigorating combination of spiritual enlightenment, martial arts, acrobatics and irreverent slapstick. The music will be pop and world with strong Chinese influences. An opera for the 21 st century. Monkey: Journey to the West will launch at the Manchester International Festival, at the Palace Theatre, on June 28 th 2007. Web site: www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com |
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5-stringed pipa premières at the Taiwan National Theatre– 25 March – 3 April 2007Cheng Yu is invited by the Taiwan National Chinese OrchestraFollowing her successfully London World Première on the 5-stringed pipa and its new music, Cheng Yu has been invited to perform with the Taiwan National Chinese Orchestra on new compositions of the newly created instrument. Cheng Yu will also give talks and lectures on the 5-stringed instruments in universities in Taiwan. Venue: The National Theatre, Taiwan TEL.:+886-2-23435252 ext.51 FAX:+886-2-23435757 台北市中山南路 21-1 號國家戲劇院 |
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The Silk String Quartet – The first and only Chinese String Quartet in the UK and EuropeWe are pleased to announce our latest Chinese music project – the birth of The Silk String Quartet.New in its form and style, unique in its instrumentation and presentation, the Silk String Quartet is a young and professional London based Chinese string instrumental group of top quality. It combines traditional and modern, Chinese and Western music in a fresh and creative way. The Quartet is a fast-raising music project – an exotic new chamber music style with unique expressions and sophisticated sound. Since its inception in spring 2006 The Silk String Quartet has already performed at the Royal Academy, London Showcase and been selected to perform in Seville, Spain in October at the WOMEX 2006 World Music Expo – the world's largest international festival for world music. Click here for details . For more information or a promotional CD, please contact us |
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The China-West fusion music project –The Silk String Quartet (SSQ) and the Chamber Music Company (CMC) |
| Having successfully created and launched the Silk String Quartet in Spring 2006, China Arts is working on a Chinese-Western fusion music project. It brings together two of the best Chinese and Western ensembles in the UK, the Silk String Quartet (led by Dr Cheng Yu) and the Chamber Music Company (led by Mark Troop). The aim is to explore the soundworld of the East and West and creatively test both the potential and the boundaries between these two different musical cultures. Experiments include trying adopted music on each culture's instruments, and collaborations of the mixed ensembles with diverse musical works by composers of different backgrounds. The project presents its first fruit at the inaugurations of both China Telecom ( Europe ) Ltd and Dragon Cambridge International (provides UK-Chinese business links). |
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