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Post by calden on Jan 19, 2006 15:08:55 GMT
Lucky me - I get to perform some music at our community's Chinese New Year performance this year.
I'm playing with a Chinese friend, a local Chinese teenager, and friends' wife.
We're doing three numbers -
1) Mu Min (shepherd's song - quick, northern minor sound ) me- erhu Zhouping - dizi Kevin - cello (part arranged by Zhouping) Xiaoping - mu yu (wood block)
2) Jin Xao Bian (Silk Banner) erhu Zhou ping -Yang Qing (hammered dulcimer) mu yu cello
3) Han Tian Lei (Thunder on a dry day - great song) erhu yang qing cello mu yu
Of course I'd love to do more trad music, but the program has to have space for such things as a fashion show to prerecorded music (sounds like 12 girls' band), martial arts demo by a couple of waiguoren, children's dancing, and semi-humorous skits, as well as a local hired magician, not Chinese. Oh, I'm also part of a men's singing group doing a Chinese/English version of "Edelweiss." I have always been mystified as to the popularity of this song in mainland China. When I taught English in 1986 in QIngdao my students sang it to me and my wife at the welcome banquet for us. At the time it was surreal.
I'll see if I can get a video of the performance and share it here. Carlos
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 19, 2006 18:29:00 GMT
Too bad for me, I forgot to e-mail the hosts of the celebrations at my city to try and ask them if they would allow me in the scedule. It's already been set. The only thing traditional is the Cantonese Opera, but these days they mime it rather than sing it live, which is a shame. I remember a long time ago when they use to invite real musicians to play. I saw a pipa performance once, plus they had an ensemble for the opera for around two years, then they stopped. Since then, the programme has been pretty thin in my books. Then there's the 12 girls band background music which I thought was a desperate attempt in itself... Then there are the recycled children dances which I seem to remember they dancing to the same one for three years running (plus the same dance over again at my Chinese school CNY fete and the prize giving day, etc). *sigh*
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 19, 2006 19:24:58 GMT
I got double-booked on Feb 4 with New Year performances at the Chinese and Vietnamese celebrations. The events are at the same facility in different rooms, so I am hoping that the schedules for each will not conflict. We will see.
I don't remember the names of the Chinese tunes I am doing on erhu, but I am playing Liu San Jie on monochord with my teacher on erhu. The version is taken from one on a 12 Girls Band recording. It is a switch for me to use Chinese style on the monochord, but I am having fun with it.
If all goes as planned, I will play a few tunes on erhu in an ensemble including dizi, guzheng, and my teacher on zhonghu.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by sanmenxia on Jan 19, 2006 20:46:23 GMT
I suppose getting musicians to play Cantonese opera might a bit difficult, but to mime can't be a good thing for Chinese music There are Cantonese opera musicians in the UK, I suppose the show organisers can't afford to pay them just to play for a few songs. Are they going to mime to their own singing? It'd be a bit weird if they're going to mime to commercial recordings. It reminds me of the new Year 'show' I went to last year at the South Bank in London. It consisted of various dances, (yeah one had kiddies waving fans and running around the stage) all with recorded music, the sound quality was terrible. It was so bad I left before the end. It was pretty shocking
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 19, 2006 23:35:17 GMT
As far as I can tell, they mime to their own singing (I think....). One year, one of the smaller parts mimed out of synch! I couldn't stop giggling at the whole silliness of it all! Unbelievable!
The year I saw them do it live to real music was very good and enjoyable! Too bad it has descended to utter tosh! My patience and motivation has dwindled over the years. And looking at this years programme, more karaoke, same old dances, etc. This might be my last visit to a CNY! Well actually, the one in London sounds more promising coz they got their China in London season going on there and it's bound to be better!
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Post by calden on Jan 22, 2006 16:41:39 GMT
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Post by sanmenxia on Jan 23, 2006 10:30:41 GMT
I've downloaded the files from the links, the picture plays normally but there's no sound. I don't know if there's something wrong with my computer or if the files are corrupted. I'll try again.
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Post by calden on Jan 23, 2006 15:01:46 GMT
No Sound! Oh No! That's the best part!
They work fine on my computer - QuickTime on my Mac opens right away and they start buffering, and then start playing in about 30 seconds.
Carlos
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 23, 2006 17:17:41 GMT
I right-clicked and downloaded the performance videos and they played just fine on my Windows XP system. Great stuff! I wish I could have been there.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by Dick on Jan 25, 2006 16:19:13 GMT
Yo Carlos! Those files download/play fine on my laptop. Nice work, guy.
Come back over to Seattle soon, and let's us do some more jamming/ensemble eh? But how about next time we share a score or two in advance, so I can avoid the embarassment of sight reading jian pu!
Anyhow, you 'da man!
--Dick
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Post by calden on Jan 25, 2006 23:12:38 GMT
Thanks for the encouragement, Dick.
However, I'm not "da man" but rather "da teahouse musician" at this point. I'll look at coming over when they stop thowing rocks around on Snoqualamie Pass. Seriously - sometime in the spring I'll find a way to get over there and be sure and get you some tunes beforehand.
Carlos
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Post by calden on Jan 27, 2006 14:52:51 GMT
Another performance alert:
I was invited to play some erhu music for yet another Chinese New Year celebration on this Sunday afternoon. The local group of parents who have adopted Chinese babies is exceptionally big here in lil' ol' Spokane, and they are very active with cultural activities and education. I gave a little performance at the Moon Festival event they held, and my experience as a family therapist and children's musician came into play as I told a story and sang some kid songs as well. So the group likes me already.
I thought it would be a rinky-dink little affair, but they managed to get the local downtown shopping mall - Riverpark Square - to give them space, and they are expecting a huge crowd - 400 or more. They're giving me a PA system as well. I have invited Zhouping and his wife Xiaoping to come and add dizi and yangqing and woodblock- they are on the video clips I threw at you folks. If I can get more video I'll put up a tune or two.
Since I saw that last video I have been practicing with a hard eye on my bowing technique, and I also slightly increased the scale of my erhu by moving the qianjin up about 1/2" to more closely match my forearm length (to first joint of pinky.) It's taking a bit of getting used to, but it's more comfortable to play - and I had to increase the string tension to bring up the pitch to D, and this has made the erhu a LOT louder. That's good!
Carlos
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 27, 2006 17:05:31 GMT
Bloody Hell, Carlos-san! Soon you'll be the town star come Sunday!
*sends some flowers over*
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 27, 2006 19:04:32 GMT
Last evening I had a rehearsal with the group I will play with for the Portland Chinese New Year celebration on Feb. 4. I was in the 7th heaven playing erhu with dizi, pipa, guzheng, and my teacher on zhonghu. It is fun enough to play erhu by myself or duet with my teacher, but playing in such a group of fine musicians on mixed instruments is a terrific experience. I have more practicing to do!
Best wishes,
David
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Post by calden on Jan 27, 2006 19:07:43 GMT
David:
Wow! What a great ensemble! I wish I could find a pipa and guzheng player here.
Carlos
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Post by paulv on Feb 2, 2006 16:47:54 GMT
Carlos, Just got around to installing QuickTime/iTunes on the Win XP laptop and heard your performance -- you sounded great and had nice form also.
Regards, Paul...
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zhou
Novice
Im bringin sexy back
Posts: 19
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Post by zhou on Sept 5, 2006 23:51:45 GMT
hi everyone! im new here so take it easy on me!
I get to perform at my public library in Cedar Grove Wisconsin for Chinese new Year! I will be playing trational peices on Gu Zheng, Hulusi, Yang Qin, and Xiao, so if you're in the area come se me!!!!!!
Zhou
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Post by jetz320 on Sept 7, 2006 23:44:36 GMT
Hey zhou, did you get your baby guzheng yet?
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zhou
Novice
Im bringin sexy back
Posts: 19
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Post by zhou on Oct 23, 2006 22:38:20 GMT
arent you from Carol's baord?
Nope, i ordered and am playing my Travel sized right now!
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Post by jetz320 on Oct 23, 2006 22:44:17 GMT
Yea. I'm jetz&music!
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zhou
Novice
Im bringin sexy back
Posts: 19
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Post by zhou on Oct 23, 2006 22:48:24 GMT
i knew that *looks around suspiciously for anyone else i know
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Post by jetz320 on Oct 23, 2006 23:49:37 GMT
Carol and david are on this forum also.
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zhou
Novice
Im bringin sexy back
Posts: 19
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Post by zhou on Oct 24, 2006 20:19:37 GMT
yeah, and i think Vi is too
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 29, 2007 22:22:50 GMT
What do ya'll have planned for New Year festivities? February looks busy for me. This year the main Vietnamese and Chinese celebrations in Portland will be on different weekends, but there are some conflicts with some smaller celebrations. I will probably need to pick and choose. My daughter's Vietnamese school has their Tet celebration the same afternoon as the Chinese celebration at the Oregon Convention Center (Feb 10), so I might miss out on playing at the latter. We will see how the schedule actually falls out.
My Liang Xiao is sounding better than last year, so maybe I will be able to play that as a solo. Purple Bamboo will certainly be on the play list again.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by Charlie Huang on Feb 8, 2007 9:40:42 GMT
Ha, completely forgot to ask my CNY organisers if I could have a slot! Too late again this year!
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