The Sparrow Quartet in Beijing - Danwei Music

[wornpick1]

Wonderful, and beautiful sounds. But possibly still a bit patronising? Your call..

[vemanos]

cool Mongolian vocals!

[russtacean]

outstanding.

[blackroster757]

wouldn't you like a nice plum wine better!

[Banjogirl58]

Bela Fleck ist der beste BanjoPicker der Welt.

UND: Ohne Ihn könnten die Anderen in seiner Gruppe einpacken.

[BafflinBook]

American country music in mongolian!!!

[ChristopherTSnow]

One more Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet video. I hope she comes to Taiwan.

[ChristopherTSnow]

One more Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet video. I hope she comes to Taiwan.

[walthanas]

Wonderful to see how music can transcend boundaries and cross cultures. Hearing the seemingly effortless interaction of both groups of musicians playing together gave me goose bumps.

[katvanbus]

Awesome video!

[JuliaSantana]

Yea! Bring it on!!!

[Banjofivestring]

Bela is the man!

Thanks for being one of the forerunners of the five string banjo.

[theshadowboy607]

kool!

[dulcimerer]

this was so beautiful. thank you for the chance to see it.

[spieieink]

This band doesn't get into chinese music like some other americans do. These people are only there trying to promote themselves and look different. There are better then the usa with more interest in chinese culture and music

[shuaiflip]

It's so sad you can not see the obvious harmony and merger of yin and yang in this musical exchange.

I hope Abigail and the Sparrows keep it up my experience has always proven the Chinese Country folk like the American Country folk live by the same set of values and that is... one that likes those that have a true desire to learn and share!

[megajust]

I agree with shuaflip, but I also wanted to add that American music is no stranger to learning and borrowing from other cultures. And, who really cares if the band is promoting itself as being different? It wasn't until white Americans began singing African-American music that blues became commercially profitable. Think of the Sparrows as a vehicle for exposure of Chinese folk.

[fiddlefeller]

What she says about learning something of the language and culture you are visiting is so important, and so unlike most traveling Americans.

As a soldier in Germany in 68-69, I learned German and played and sang with German folksingers.

I learned that while most Germans spoke English, many would not acknowledge it if the American did not first make some attempt to speak German.

Thanks for your trips to China, your fantastic music, and being such good ambassadors of music and our culture.

[walthanas]

I think that it's a show of respect to at least try to converse with people in their country in their own language, if only the basics like greetings and common courtesies.

It's unfortunate that many people who speak only one language seem to expect that everyone else simply adjusts to their language, even (or especially) if they are in a foreign country.

Living in a small country, I'm not in the position to expect everyone else to speak my language, but IMO that's a blessing.

[Harvo4282]

music truly the universal language. Very appropriate w/ the summer games in Beijing currently.

[OhShoey]

heya ^^

[maot187537]

Their music is wonderful. Abigail Washburn has really good music, and she's one of the best American Folk music players.

Plus she integrates Sichuan music very well.

Why are there ppl on here posting garbage about "cats and dogs", Taiwan, human rights.....What does that have to do with music, American Folk music, or Chinese music?

Go fuck off somewhere else....

[minmlst]

That's because people with small minds also usually suffer from some sort of OCD of exposing themselves in public...

[minmlst]

(this was in re: to maot187537)

[kissborho]

I love Ben Sollee and Casey Driesen the best.

[HyperF1]

I would say gorgeous!

[elmonociclista]

this is about music and genius music so dont mest up the thinks

[manglai]

mongolian song

[jojo216]

Remove the politics and you have some beautiful music here!

[tzhang2]

Good job, Danwei!

[pieopiol]

These people are sad.

[purpleseium]

this is a depressing video

[aioplo]

These American music just are a waste of time. I wouldn't go see the Sparrow Quartet. This woman should not be singing in public. She is repugnant. Bela Fleck must be completely washed up to be playing with such a waste. He was never really good to begin with. Very unimpressive.

[Hilyily]

Who are these low status losers?

They are without status, fame or anything and their music sucks.

[Hilyily]

Who are these people? No status. Never heard of any of them. Who cares?

No one does. How did I get here? They stink. Dull. Gosh no wonder I never heard of these hacks. Bela Fleck, I read that he is a genius, that is laughable. This woman is a hack, a low status nothing.

[ellier0215]

Don't sweat the small stuff!

Oh! They are so awesome! Sounds great!

[eastsackevster]

Why would she go to a place that treats dogs and cats like they do? copy and paste this into tube search. dont tell me they dont know whats going on'

Cat & Dog Massacre in China

[illiniwu]

it's amazing that 2 different cultures that are so far apart in distance and history can come up with similar music. also i am really impressed with abby's mandarin. to learn another language so well shows that she has a really good ear, whether it's for music or for the pitch/tone of another language.

[eastsackevster]

yea we should Learn more about people in china

type this into search, its not like they dont know whats going on before they went

Cat & Dog Massacre in China

[bdyan1]

i dont think chinese in general dislike or hate the american people as we do towards japs

[markart157]

please americans go OUT of  China... Russian with communist mentalityare welcome

[CaptainMcCrank]

"I think they felt excited and maybe even a little appreciative of the fact that I care so much about their culture and language."

lol

[eastsackevster]

Captain, oh yes we should care like they do

type this into search, its not like they dont know whats going on before they went

Cat & Dog Massacre in China

[CaptainMcCrank]

lol, wut?

[tzhang2]

I start to wonder are you a dog or a cat? When American troops are killing people in Iraq, you are sympathetic to these dogs and cats in China? Go kiss the a'ss of Michael Vick first.

[WhiteTiger333]

Very cool! I just discovered both the Uncle Earl band and the Sparrow Quartet in one evening. YouTube rules. A big hey to both bands. I'll be picking up any CDs y'all put out.

[fengqifengqi]

yes, we appreciate foreigners who care much about our culture :)

[eastsackevster]

fenggifenggi, care about your culture like your culture cars about dogs and cats?

type this into search, its not like they dont know whats going on before they went

Cat & Dog Massacre in China

[fengqifengqi]

Thanks estsackevster. We call this the food chain. Because human does not have choroplast as the green plant does, it has to live on eating other living organisms. Chinese eat animals for living. Besides eating animals, American scientists use living animals like monkey, cats and millions of rats as experimental materials and subjects.

I am trying to understand you, but could you give a criteria for ideal deed?

[eastsackevster]

fenggifungusbrain'

whats not to understand?

Abi and her liberal comrades go to Asia for the "spiritual" experience.

so then, again, what is so "spiritual" about Cat & Dog Massacre in China ( did you copy and paste that into youtube? how can you dismiss the "torture" parts of it as "they just eat animals.

now, debate me honestly, or dont play

[fengqifengqi]

Sure, as I said: Could you tell me what's your criteria for "torture".

I already gave the example of scientific experiments in U.S., in which animals went through unknown drug uptaking, electrical stimulation, limbic amputation, organ dissection, etc.

[fengqifengqi]

In the video you are trying to show us, there are dead bodies of cats and dogs. How do you know about the torture, what's the point for mentally healthy adults to "torture" there food? I don't think it's necessary and I don't see them happening in the video.

I understand you care about the animals but maybe you have imagined too much.

[fengqifengqi]

You know what... I clicked the wrong link. This time I saw what you mean. Okay, I confess that's torture indeed. But it should happen really rarely. At least I'd never seen this for 22 years in Beijing. Still you shouldnt have generalize it to a whole nation. If Chinese are all cold blooded and uncivilized, why do you try to persuade me to understand your feeling?

[ccr152]

did the sparrow quartet put out an album? i can't find them anywhere and i'd love to have it.

[kuny9213]

I like last small boy. I think he will be good

PBanjo player ! Mr,Danwei he did good job !

[abcdefgxD]

ppl don't get raped by communists, they get rape by fucking japanese tyrants, rape of nanjin? ever learned that in history class?

[xixietru]

and tokyo is full of racists, history-erasing tyrannists, and lurid transvestites. talk about copycats, who copied chinese characters and claimed it as their own?

before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean.

[martini270]

There's always the slim hope that we won't soon "stupid" ourselves into another dark age. This sort of group proves it - - so very well! Thanks

[oranliu]

good job you guys! how did u come up with the idea of making documentary movies like this? plz keep doing.

[rogerdarwen]

a gem found by freefall thanks and goodnight

[evo998]

is that ur mum ever get raped by commuist?

[karsaturn]

wonderful, can't wait to see them at Greyfox.....

[qiuqiu1987]

wonderful~ 你们太有才了！！ HAHAHA

[Magublican]

I really enjoyed that.

[nadishak]

Facinating.  I love the music. I wish I could visit China.

[Archels]

its not chinese.......

[Zion667]

very nice

[herenaycomes]

omg she speaks really good mandarin

[banjobilly32]

Great to see super musicians adapting to other cultures and the similarities after all is said and done. Music soothes the savage beast! Nice job.

[lock0512]

mongolian music-- horsehead

[InuShess]

thanks for posting! i want to return to beijing. I miss beijing. thanks for reminding me of china!!

[write2yibo]

this mong string instrument is beautiful. deep as a bass. its like bass and melody at the same time.

[write2yibo]

nicely documented.yeah! Need more chineses/mongolia fusion/jams. banjos bland in beautifully. world music rocks

[Taloon64]

...so I go to watch a video of a quartet playing on a random rooftop in China ...and Bela Fleck's there! Such a surprise. ;)

[cellojoe]

cool video!

[dlivers9704]

I wached them preform before they went off to China. To describe in one word, amazing! If you want to hear more of Casey Driessen get his new CD 3-D.

[yeepett]

i luv Beijing!

[qq57439621]

gorgious background view.

[stringtheorymedia]

First, wonderful work. Shooting and playing. I finally got to read Casey's blog entries about this trip and found this video through him.

Second, whoever you are Mongolianluv, you are hateful, boring, repetitive and wrong. Everyone please tag his comments as spam. You don't have to love this stuff or leave all nice comments, but this kind of board slamming and these false accusations are pathetic.

[autismdiva]

This is such beautiful music. Thank you.

[emerni]

this is great :-)

[amos325]

I am a Beijing local and even I learned a lot from your videos. Thanks! keep up the great work!

[Danwei]

Ahem, Yanjing is the only beer to drink when you are in Beijing.

[0112331]

Hey, don't mess with Tsingtao my friend. I'm a Beijinger and I gotta say Tsingtao is absolutely the best fuck*in beer in China. It's even better than German beer.

[willwkrueger]

Tsingtao is better. i love this project it is so valuable aestetically culturally musically politically spiritually. this music means a lot to me because i play banjo and grew up in china with an appreciation for diverse musical traditions and you synthesize them beautifully.

[Handlr]

they drink weird beer, Tsingtao tastes way better ;)

[reddlerkw]

Again, I just wanted to commend DanweiTV for another great feature

[jayinbeijing]

Nice videos, really showing Beijing life. I am an expat here and have some videos of Beijing and also Tibet and some parts of the world I travel to.

[deadasoren]

wow American country music meets chinese cello, brilliant crossover

[heyyimhanna]

this was awesome, i wish i could move back to beijing and just be an expat like the lady in the video said she wanted to do..i doubt ill get a record deal back home so maybe my dream will come true:D

keep the good videos coming!

[yxiuy]

There arent many who cares about Chinese culture, they dun even bother to understand it.

Im not talk about the cantonese scene you always see in Chinatown, but so many cultures, the beauty of China.

They just dun understand.

I am curious to see what they will react after they find out after Beijing 2008.

Danwei, again, a well deserved 5 star.

[DreamingKatariina]

Everytime I see these videos I just start to cry because I miss Beijing so much!!! But thank you for making them! They are HILARIOUS and very interesting! Go Danwei! WO AI BEI JING!

[KarmaIIIIPolice]

just amazing