I'll admit that, other than Tan Dun and Alex's piece in The New Yorker last year, I don't know the first thing about music from China. Much of that probably has to do with the fact that Mao silenced most composers during the Cultural Revolution 30 years ago, which sought to expunge Chinese music of all Western influence: an abomination from which the country is still in a state of recovery.
Fortunately, the insightful new music series Music on MacDougal saw fit last night to shed some light on the music of two of China's most important living composers, neither of whom are often heard on these shores. Wang Xilin (b. 1937) was jailed, beaten and exiled for fourteen years for refusing to give up his devotion to Western music, but persevered to produce a wide body of works that meld classical and Chinese folk music. His Quartet (2002) sounded almost bluegrassy at points, with the lead violin played like a fiddle.
Luo Zhongrong (b. 1924) is considered the father of modern Chinese music, having studied with a disciple of Hindemith, whose The Craft of Musical Composition Luo translated into Chinese. Like Shostakovich, he wrote a great deal of propagandist music for the regime throughout the 40's and 50's – and was thanked by being forced into manual labor during the Cultural Revolution. The excellent young Jack Quartet performed the overdue world premiere of his String Quartet No. 4 (2007): a piece which was both mournful and anxious, with some pretty mad pizzicato. Unfortunately, Luo couldn't make the trip to New York, but a video shot by William Lane and the Grenzenlos Foundation showed him with his musically-talented family, including his developmentally disabled son who paints radiant abstract canvases to music by Mahler and Wagner.
Music on MacDougal continues with weekly performances through June; check out the calendar for details.
Spring Percussion Concert at Music on MacDougal.
Celebrate Tax Day – April 15 at 8:00.
Tickets on ovationtix.com
Ethos Percussion Group will perform Drumming Part 1 by Steve Reich as well as two world premiere compositions.
For nearly twenty years, Ethos Percussion Group has inspired audiences througout the country with its exceptional music-making and collective devotion to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Ensemble members Trey Files, Eric Phinney, Yousif Sheronick and David Shively are accomplished classical and world music artists, each with a distinctive background and musical perspective. Their substantial combined expertise is the source of Ethos’ innovative programming, which integrates global instruments and playing styles into the conventions of Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. The ensemble’s critically-acclaimed performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, traditional rhythms from India, West Africa and the Middle East, and landmark works by composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison and Steve Reich.
Spring Percussion Concert at Music on MacDougal.
Celebrate Tax Day – April 15 at 8:00.
Tickets on ovationtix.com
Ethos Percussion Group will perform Drumming Part 1 by Steve Reich as well as two world premiere compositions.
For nearly twenty years, Ethos Percussion Group has inspired audiences througout the country with its exceptional music-making and collective devotion to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Ensemble members Trey Files, Eric Phinney, Yousif Sheronick and David Shively are accomplished classical and world music artists, each with a distinctive background and musical perspective. Their substantial combined expertise is the source of Ethos’ innovative programming, which integrates global instruments and playing styles into the conventions of Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. The ensemble’s critically-acclaimed performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, traditional rhythms from India, West Africa and the Middle East, and landmark works by composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison and Steve Reich.
Spring Percussion Concert at Music on MacDougal.
Celebrate Tax Day – April 15 at 8:00.
Tickets on ovationtix.com
Ethos Percussion Group will perform Drumming Part 1 by Steve Reich as well as two world premiere compositions.
For nearly twenty years, Ethos Percussion Group has inspired audiences througout the country with its exceptional music-making and collective devotion to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Ensemble members Trey Files, Eric Phinney, Yousif Sheronick and David Shively are accomplished classical and world music artists, each with a distinctive background and musical perspective. Their substantial combined expertise is the source of Ethos’ innovative programming, which integrates global instruments and playing styles into the conventions of Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. The ensemble’s critically-acclaimed performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, traditional rhythms from India, West Africa and the Middle East, and landmark works by composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison and Steve Reich.
Spring Percussion Concert at Music on MacDougal.
Celebrate Tax Day – April 15 at 8:00.
Tickets on ovationtix.com
Ethos Percussion Group will perform Drumming Part 1 by Steve Reich as well as two world premiere compositions.
For nearly twenty years, Ethos Percussion Group has inspired audiences througout the country with its exceptional music-making and collective devotion to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Ensemble members Trey Files, Eric Phinney, Yousif Sheronick and David Shively are accomplished classical and world music artists, each with a distinctive background and musical perspective. Their substantial combined expertise is the source of Ethos’ innovative programming, which integrates global instruments and playing styles into the conventions of Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. The ensemble’s critically-acclaimed performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, traditional rhythms from India, West Africa and the Middle East, and landmark works by composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison and Steve Reich.
Spring Percussion Concert at Music on MacDougal.
Celebrate Tax Day – April 15 at 8:00.
Tickets on ovationtix.com
Ethos Percussion Group will perform Drumming Part 1 by Steve Reich as well as two world premiere compositions.
For nearly twenty years, Ethos Percussion Group has inspired audiences througout the country with its exceptional music-making and collective devotion to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Ensemble members Trey Files, Eric Phinney, Yousif Sheronick and David Shively are accomplished classical and world music artists, each with a distinctive background and musical perspective. Their substantial combined expertise is the source of Ethos’ innovative programming, which integrates global instruments and playing styles into the conventions of Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. The ensemble’s critically-acclaimed performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, traditional rhythms from India, West Africa and the Middle East, and landmark works by composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison and Steve Reich.
Spring Percussion Concert at Music on MacDougal.
Celebrate Tax Day – April 15 at 8:00.
Tickets on ovationtix.com
Ethos Percussion Group will perform Drumming Part 1 by Steve Reich as well as two world premiere compositions.
For nearly twenty years, Ethos Percussion Group has inspired audiences througout the country with its exceptional music-making and collective devotion to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Ensemble members Trey Files, Eric Phinney, Yousif Sheronick and David Shively are accomplished classical and world music artists, each with a distinctive background and musical perspective. Their substantial combined expertise is the source of Ethos’ innovative programming, which integrates global instruments and playing styles into the conventions of Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. The ensemble’s critically-acclaimed performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, traditional rhythms from India, West Africa and the Middle East, and landmark works by composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison and Steve Reich.