Min Xiao-Fen & River Guerguerian Accompany Silent Chinese Classics
Free (RSVP recommended)
- Min Xiao-Fen, Chinese plucked instruments including pipa, ruan, sanxian, guqin, & finger piano; sound effects & voice
- River Guerguerian, Middle Eastern/Indian frame drums, hand drums, kanjira talking drums, Chinese gongs, hand-pan, marimba, & voice
Min Xiao-Fen — Romance of the Western Chamber (world premiere)
In celebration of the Freer Centennial, we commissioned Min Xiao-Fen to compose original scores for two Chinese silent films, Romance of the Fruit Peddler (Dir.: Zhang Shichuan, 1922, 24 min.) and Romance of the Western Chamber (Dir.: Hou Yao, 1927, 43 min.). Min is known for her innovative approach to traditional music and her ability to seamlessly integrate diverse musical styles. She will perform with master percussionist River Guerguerian, a renowned multi-percussionist and composer and a leading figure in classical, jazz, and world music. Together, they bring a unique cross-cultural expression and artistic vision to the stage for an evening treat for cinephiles and music aficionados alike.
Film admission policy: Films are shown in the 300-seat Meyer Auditorium. Free tickets (up to four per person per film) can be reserved using the link above. Patrons may also register at the door if seats are still available.
About Min Xiao-Fen, Chinese plucked instruments including pipa, ruan, sanxian, guqin, & finger piano; sound effects & voice
One of the key instruments in Chinese music, the pipa has a rich and storied legacy stretching back nearly two thousand years. Few artists have done more to both honor and reinvent that history than renowned pipa soloist, vocalist and composer Min Xiao-Fen. Classically trained in her native China, Ms. Min was an acclaimed traditional music soloist before relocating to the United States and forging a new path for her instrument alongside many of the leading lights in modern jazz, free improvisation, experimental, and contemporary classical music.
In Ms. Min's music, east and west, tradition and innovation, discipline and spontaneity, ancient past and unexplored future all flow together like streams joining in one vibrant river. NPR Weekend Edition lauded Ms. Min as "one of the world's greatest virtuosos" and JazzTimes hailed her as "a pioneer in integrating her ancient instrument with modern jazz and improvised music." The New York Times raved that her singular work "has traversed a sweeping musical odyssey." Min's expressive, uncategorizable voice has found her collaborating with such inventive luminaries as Wadada Leo Smith, Derek Bailey, Randy Weston, John Zorn, Christian Marclay and Björk.
http://minbluepipa.com/