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Post by xindi on Jan 16, 2012 18:43:07 GMT
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Post by sanmenxia on Jan 16, 2012 20:47:46 GMT
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Post by xindi on Jan 19, 2012 20:32:46 GMT
Zhang Hon Yan is a bit extreme, isn't she lol. Nevertheless, her playing is very distinctive (like when turning the monitor off and listening only to the music). I like Liu De Hai and Lin Shi Cheng the most, however their CDs are really difficult to find. I found a VCD by Lin Shi Cheng showing the techniques you've linked. Liu De Hai's version of 'Shi Mian Mi Fu' [Ambush from all sides] is exceptional - as are Lin Shi Cheng's. Zhao Cong's version and Wang Chi Cheng's versions are exceptionally passionate too. The only version (which I expected great things from) I'm really disappointed with is Wu Man's version. Hers is too delicate and light; lacking the rhythmic attack in strumming, it possesses a strangely feminine grace, rather unaccounted for in the final chapter of the military Xiang Yu's stunning defeat and suicide by beheading himself to hand his head over for his mates to collect the booty after the would-be Han emperor put a reward on his head. Anyway, here's more of Zhao Cong in a more feminine mode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD_cjVo41LU&feature=related |
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Post by edcat7 on Jan 19, 2012 22:58:20 GMT
I really can't stand all that head shaking, pulling faces, hands waving in the air and excessive swaying around! I gather conservatories actually teach all that as part of a "performance". It all just seems trying too hard to me, sometimes less is more! I prefer a less slick and less flashy playing style: Lin Shicheng 林石城: Waves Washing the Sand 大浪淘沙 www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCK29taZ2N4Lin Shicheng 林石城: Spring sun white snow www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofQ-M739OUgThis is him talking about the pipa with some demonstrations of technigue www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rgSn0_m-44My favourite one on Youtube is Chao Yuan Song play by Liu Dehai: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqhNU4XRk0AYes I quite agree. The histronics are a distraction. Whereas I could mediate to Lin Shi Cheng's playing. |
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Post by xindi on Jan 21, 2012 0:53:02 GMT
Histrionics?! Lol. Shakespeare would have a few choice words about spurned women Ed  Here's an album I found - not on youtube sadly - which is just incredible:  Wang Chi Ching records for the Hugo Audiophile label. She has at least 3 pipa CDs - I got the two solo ones, partly because the third one was with her ensemble (she is the lead pipa/strings conductor of an orchestra). She records a number of Lin Shi Cheng's compositions for pipa. No histrionics either - playing style is very different from Zhang or Zhao. I have about 4 albums by Wu Man, and unfortunately, I find them all rather too contemporary/electic for me. There are some interesting works, like her pipa recording of ACDC's classics. Listening to recordings/interpretations, like the Dance of the Yi, I'm finding I prefer some versions over others, but overall, no single pipa player has a monopoly over all the repertoire. Maybe Liu De Hai or Lin Shi Cheng, however apart from the Naxos recordings, they are very poorly represented (maybe I'm not searching correctly in hanzi?) |
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 22, 2012 21:08:21 GMT
I found videos on Youtube of Wong Chi Ching: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy1RQXsKqHYI don't know what is on the CD you mentioned, but this performance is of "Spring Blossoms on a Moonlit River". My teacher's group performed this last Sunday. Lovely tune, and an exellent performance. Best wishes, David |
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Post by xindi on Jan 24, 2012 12:13:05 GMT
That one is on her third CD - the ensemble performances - which I didn't get. The first two CDs are solo pipa works: one is more deftly played and racy, containing 'King Chu takes off his armour' and 'Ambushed from all sides' and 'Dance of the Yi People' and others. It's a splendid collection - I know Ming Xiao Fen's CD has 'Ambushed from all sides' (her version is great) but the pace slacks across the CD compared to Wang's. I don't find her Ambushed on all sides as compelling as Zhao Cong's: www.youtube.be/watch?v=y5FX3615ZXwparticularly towards the last minute, where Zhao slaps the strings to achieve the sudden rupture and ending - Wang lets the ending 'hang' too long for the dramatic climax of the ambush. The second Wang CD has traditional (rather non-melodic) folk music for pipa. I haven't ever heard any of the tracks on it, and it seems more ethnic folk: really rather unusual. It's excellent, however less immediate than the first one. Would love to find a CD with Liuyang River on pipa too. The youtube clips have to do in the meantime. |
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