The Calendar of Melody of China, 2007-2008 Seasons

2008 January February March April May June July August September October November December
2007 January February March April May June July August September October November December

June 2007

 

 

   
23
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival TBA TBA TBA
24
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival TBA TBA TBA
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July 2007

7
Young Composers Series: Melody of China (II)
Hong Wang, huqin (strings); Wanpeng Guo, sheng (mouth organ); Xian Lu, dizi (bamboo flutes); Shenshen Zhang, pipa (Chinese lute); Gangqin Zhao, zheng (table harp); Yangqin Zhao, yangqin (hammer dulcimer); Bik Lee, electronics
 
Tonight’s concert represents an important part of Melody of China’s mission in bringing the beauty and versatility of traditional Chinese instruments into the public spotlight. In addition to staging brilliant renditions of various Chinese folk melodies, the virtuosic ensemble will showcase world premieres of new works by several young composers from the Bay Area. Albert Chang's Passacaglia features matouqin/erhu, sheng, yangqin, and guzheng. In a form based on continuous variations of the opening statement played by the matoqin, the piece covers the panorama of human passions and ambitions during the turbulent years near the end of the Qin dynasty which marked the end of Imperial China. Eric Myers’ work for quintet, Meandering Streams, alludes to traditional styles while experimenting with rhythmic space. Dawei Wang’s work for quartetFlowing Creek, the music is arranged from a well-known fold song Xiao He Tan Shui ('Flowing Creek'); Alan Chan’s piece paints a picture of Acala, one of the Five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm in Vajrayana Buddhism. Finally, Bik Lee's work utilizes electronics to modify the sound of the erhu fusing together modern technology and ancient tradition. Each composer is familiar with Chinese culture and seeks to bring their own compositional voice to these ancient instruments. As a first-rate performing ensemble, Melody of China couldn’t be a better choice to act as such a vehicle of artistic expression, helping to give these composers a place at

Community School of Music and Arts at Tateuchi Hall
230 San Antonio Circle,
Mountain View, CA 94040
7:00PM

Ticket:

$15 General
 
$12 (65 and older) 
$12 full-time student



(415) 681-8599
(415) 640-9825
       
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August 2007

       

 

 

   
         

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September 2007
         
22
Fremont Symphony Orchestra futures erhu master Hong Wang to perform a Erhu Concerto world premiere by Albert Chang at Gary Soren Smith Center for the Fine and Performin Arts
Ohlane College
43600 Mission Boulevard
Fremont, CA 94539
8:00 PM
Symphony performances:
Section A - $45
Section B - $40
Students  - $20 (with valid ID)
Box Office: (510) 794-1659   
Email: tickets@fremontsymphony.org
       

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October 2007

4
Melody of China’s 14th annual home season
October 4 – 7, 2007 in San Jose, Mountain View, Berkeley, and San Francisco
October 4 - 7, Melody of China will launch their 14th annual home season with concerts in San Jose, Mountain View, Berkeley, and San Francisco. The program features world premieres of original, commissioned works by two outstanding Chinese composers – Gang Situ (Bay Area) and Yuanlin Chen (New York, NY) and includes guest appearances by the award-winning San Francisco Guitar Quartet.
Gang Situ is an award-winning composer who explores innovative ways to fuse Chinese and Western classical music. His latest piece for Melody of China was commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission. Entitled “Quartet X 2,” this fascinating piece is a score for two string quartets rooted in two very different music traditions – western classical guitar and four traditional Chinese plucked instruments: pipa, yangqin, yuan, and guzheng. “Quartet X 2” will be performed simultaneously by the San Francisco Guitar Quartet and members of Melody of China.
The second piece on the program is a musical suite by Yuanlin Chen entitled “Wondering in the Journey.” According to the composer, the piece depicts the mental journey of a human being facing the distance between their ideals and their reality. It harkens the latitude between eastern and western cultures, and the longitude of ancient, modern and future time.
The performance will be Hong Wang on erhu (Chinese two-string fiddle), Yangqin Zhao yangqin (hammered dulcimer), Xian Lu on dizi (bamboo flutes), Wanpeng Guo sheng (mouth organ), Sheshen Zhang pipa (Chinese lute); the other instruments are Eric Myers on keyboard and guest musicians Peter Josheff on clarinet, Hannah Addrio-Berry on cello.
La Petiti Trianon Theater
72 North Fifth St.,
San Jose, CA 95112
7:30 PM
Tickets:
$10 full-time student and senior
General $18
(415) 392-4400
www.citybox.office.com
(415) 681-8599
www.melodyofchina.org/ticket.html
5
Community School of Music & Arts
230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, CA 94040
7:30PM
Tickets:
$10 full-time student and senior
General $18
(415) 392-4400
www.citybox.office.com
(415) 681-8599
www.melodyofchina.org/ticket.html
6
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
2300 Bancroft Way,
Berkeley, CA 94704
7:30PM
Tickets:
$10 full-time student and senior
General $18
(415) 392-4400
www.citybox.office.com
(415) 681-8599
www.melodyofchina.org/ticket.html
7
Noe Valley Ministry Church