Wu Man: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

[Ameretat010]

Holy fuck. That right hand work has left me looking on the ground, trying to find my jaw... Spectacular technique. If I didn't know any better, I'd think the Chinese invented flamenco, after watching this clip. Great stuff.

[MumrhaMumrha]

that first song is absolute chaos! and i fricken love it ;p

[khagen50]

Lady! You are bad ass!

[greedyhips22]

i just bought one, my first question is how do you tune it?

[Southernmetalhippie]

I have a new goal in life: invalidate her claim that boys are too lazy to learn pipa.

[xyoungwx]

Brutal finger rollings

[rasenganluffy]

natural born shredder.

[igrung]

it is very old and classical Chinese instrument, I think maybe guitar is originally from this, and Marco Polo took it to Italy.

[Quack4Zac]

@igrung

Lmao....no.... Guitar originated from the lute. Which is far older than Marco Polo. 

[shirtstuff]

holy f**king coala on a stick !!!

[kevinphilipmiller]

i am honored to have wu man's music opening the beginning of my film GENERATION RX. She is a master.

[arashtony]

I love how she cracks the audience up by poking fun at lazy boys.

[HanDynasty26349]

i love how most asian instruments require alot of knowledge due to the fact that they r very hard to play correctly just watching her turn the other way and not look at the instrument and not messing up is cool

[Organic4902]

Is this Mumford and Sons next instrument?

[scooterbender13]

@Organic4902 no it's arcade fires 

[antiemo666777]

I bet she is good at typing

[GuqinZheng]

@antiemo666777 I think you mean that piano players are good at typing?:P Want to see great typing? watch this watch?v=2coibE8jhc8

[cotoocho]

Hermoso!!!

[jonmoulton]

Excellent work on the pipa. I've been enjoying listening to that video for the past few mornings, sitting at my desk at work. Wu Man was a fine choice for a tiny desk performer.

[Satyricscott]

its Jackie Chans mom

[Mouldytone]

I`ve counted the number of strings many times. Only four? How come it sounds like many more? The term virtuoso comes to mind. Great performance. Thanks Wu Man, thanks NPR.

[xtelevisionset]

A true artist. She is one with her instrument. Compassion in it's most elegant form.

[notoriously0]

wow she's incredible

[cartoonage]

I fully agree with ManBag101

great channel!

[6BGSU]

i kinda want to see what will happen if you give her a guitar lol

[JonathanTheAlchemist]

@6BGSU

Guitar? How about a harp?

[6BGSU]

@JonathanTheAlchemist haha yeah that as well 

[ekzoekzo]

woaaa!!!

[ajwinn]

@ekzoekzo true

[Lucybaxter1111]

I love the guy who shoots these videos. He always points the camera exactly where I want to look. And, of course, the music is superb.

[AlexanderCovic]

once more, Led Zep in the background (+ 30 yrs of Guitar World). Jimmy Page has her back. how appropriate ;)

[griffinthecity]

Whoo, man! That woman in Wu Man is incredible.

[fooglez]

chills, everywhere.

[Mariekesone]

Chinese Music is so pure, ancient and unique....i recently discovered how beautiful it is .....

One can recognize many styles of music, we use in the western world today

I especially heart their instrumentals...

This is Great!...:-)

[azrasound]

I may have the scene wrong, but just checked the soundtrack and that is, in fact, the song from the movie. So cool...

[merdufer]

@azrasound "Ambushed from ten sides" is quite a popular traditional repertoire for virtuosos. There's an interesting story behind it, too, if you're into ancient militaristic stuff.

[letatouage]

WOW



[azrasound]

Is it just me or does the beginning of the first song sound like the tune those guys in Kung Fu Hustle played when they "fought" with their guitar-like instrument?

[kurouki]

the bendings, the vibratos, the phrasing that she does... fantastic to say the least.. =)

[CaLebHillSmallMt]

wu man is the WOMAN!!!!!!! SHE ROCKS THE HOUSE

[eggs808]

really great music!

[SqwishTV]

Watching Wu Man play with intense passion while listening to this unique ancient style of music was simply captivating.  Besides the flying fingers, and impeccable execution throughout, there was a snare drum-like sound effect at 12:53 that I did not expect... NPR music never ceases to amaze me with the eclectic musicians they find to perform for these "Tiny Desk Concerts"; thanks for sharing.

[Nieves57]

Cool.



[ManBag101]

i love npr because they show me music I would never listen to, and it just gives me such a good experience. Thanks so much

[ItsybitsyspiderMamma]

@ManBag101

well said, & a tremendous educational tool for my kiddos

[Shizka]

This is awesome! Thanks a lot for sharing!

[VegasFall]

I very much enjoyed this! You don't see or hear this too much nowadays. Quite refreshing. :DDD