Warren Chang Orchestra in Seattle, Sunday June 26

[Dick]

Heads up, Northwesters. The Seattle Chinese Orchestra, directed by Warren Chang, will present a concert at Meany Hall at the University of Washington, afternoon of Sunday Jun 26. Concert will also feature the Washington Chinese Youth Orchestra, and the Capital Area Youth Symphony from Olympia. Details at www.uschinamusic.com/2005pr.htm.

Order tickets from the website, or call Barbara in Seattle 206 380 6823. Tell her Dick sent you!

[davidmdahl]

I am afraid that I will not be driving up to Seattle to hear Warren Chang's orchestra perform, but thanks for the heads up, Dick. I wish we had such an organization in Portland.

Have fun!

Best wishes,

David

[calden]

Dick:

Thanks for noting this! I might be over. Family will be on vacation this coming week in Vancouver and MIGHT be able to swing through on our way home unless we need to get home sooner. I've been to Warren's annual concerts for the two previous years. Superb.
Carlos

[davidmdahl]

Hello Dick,

So, are we going to get a concert report? <nudge, nudge>

Best wishes,

David

[Dick]

Oh yeah. I meant to get to a concert report right away, but life inserted itself.

Part of my own frame of reference for Mr. Chang's show was the fact that just a week earlier we had gone to Benaroya Hall, the big symphony house in downtown Seattle, to take in a Chinese ethnic music and dance program on tour from the PRC. That show was a real disappointment for me. The focus was much more on dance than music... only three of the twenty or so segments entailed presentations by live musicians. The dance accompaniments mixed Chinese "flavor" sounds into dramatic synthesizer arrangements. The costumes were elaborate, and more reminiscent of Chinese ethnic minorities than authentic. The whole affair seemed like a Las Vegas interpretation of Chinese minority cultures. It's to gag.

So, sorry to lay that on everybody. A week later found us at Meany Hall for Warren Chang's organization's 20th annual concert featuring traditional and modern Chinese musc. This was a truly wonderful presentation of music performed by local students as well as seasoned performers. The "little sprouts" ensemble and Warren's Chinese Youth Orchestra acquitted themselves with spirit and honor. The Capital Area Youth Symphony, up from Olympia, also did a great job on a yang qin concerto (Spring of Happiness) and an erhu feature piece (Red Plum Concerto).

One of the highlights of the program for me was a fantastic ba wu solo "Fisherman's Song" performed by Wayne Yee. I know he gets just an octave or a ninth out of the instrument, no more is possible, yet he manages to get so much expression out of that limited range.

The other big hit for me was a tour de force gu zheng solo performance by Janelle Yeung. She played a piece called General's Command that seemed to draw on every effect the gu zheng can produce. Ms. Yeung played with authority, grace, and sensitivity. It was stunning.

Hey, thanks for the reminder, David. Next year, y'all will have to come up and report on it yourself!

[davidmdahl]

Thanks for the great report, Dick. I know what you mean about the Las Vegas approach to Chinese music. The same thing has happened to other traditional music, such as Vietnamese (Paris by Night), and Irish (Riverdance). Some of it is good, but much is not, at least in my opinion. Certainly it is a loss if the glitz overshadows and replaces the true rich traditions. I am relieved to know that the Chang group does it right. I enjoy it when the local talent outshines the imports.

I hope to be there with you in the audience next year!

Best wishes,

David

[calden]

I'll add my opinion to what's been said. Warren and his group do it right. His focus has been to maintain the classic repertoire as well as techniques and instruments. No glitz here. In fact, many Americans might be disappointed in the performance because there is no glitz. No 12 girl band covers.

I've seen Warren perform numerous times and it's always a treat and always inspirational. My favorite is the ensemble stuff - erhu or two, daruan, pipa, guzheng, yangqin, and Wayne doing whatever magic tooty thing he does.

The only thing I haven't heard, that I'd really like, is guqin.

Carlos