Tan Dun: Zheng Concerto (4/4)

Tan Dun (b. 1957): Concerto for Zheng and String Orchestra

IV. Allegro vivace

Philharmonie Essen, July 11 2008.

Yuan Li, Zheng

Tan Dun, Conductor
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln

A re-arrangement of the "Pipa Concerto" (1999) which is based on "Ghost Opera" (1995) for string quartet and pipa with water, metal, stones, and paper. In the "Zheng Concerto" the players are not only playing their own instruments, but also contributing stomps, yips, yells, sighs and hand-slaps, sometimes in imitation of Eastern instruments.
It's a cross-temporal and cross-cultural dialogue that touches on the past, present, future, and the eternal. The Concerto employs elements from Chinese, Tibetan, English, and American cultures; and combines performance traditions of the European classical concert and the shamanistic ritual.
Wu Man called it a "giddy merging of traditions and a leapfrogging through music history, in which cultural integration is effortless. The Zheng may be exotic in Western music, but it is no longer alien. No single work more exemplifies Tan's range, which extends from uncompromising experimentalism to populism."

Category:

Music

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• Tan
• Dun
• Zheng
• Concerto
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• Contemporary
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• essen
• yuan
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• philharmonie
• classical
• WDR
• Sinfonieorchester
• ghost
• opera

[desariofan]

amazing end!

[AllmuthAndorsch]

@desariofan :-)

[LODragonJoe]

I think its inventive, improvisational and sensational. Who gives a damn what Mr. 309058659 says. Its definately not your classical piece but its also not a European piece or American style of music. Culturally if you don't understand the style then theres no point in commenting.

[AllmuthAndorsch]

That's what I want to hear! At last someone who got it.

[LODragonJoe]

Of course! Tan Dun is a composition GENIUS!

[AllmuthAndorsch]

And now just everybody else has to catch on!

[venzerable]

wild



[Simson616]

@309058659 OH EM GEE IT'S DISSONANT DDDD: 

[TheMstrsscat]

Fabulous.

Without innovation, there is stagnation

[mangablade]

@LODragonJoe There is heavy european and american influence, just as their is chinese and tibetan. I dont think you can even hope to try to say this is one region's style of music; Its Tan Dun's. He definately doesn't write strictly chinese traditional music though, he mixes his humble chinese upbringings with his Glass and Cage influence when studying in America, with european style string orchestra. Theres always a point in commenting if you have something to say, even if I or you don't likeIt

[GuqinZheng]

the music is at peace with the final harmonic.

[1980theone]

This was Super Amazing and Super Awesome! ^_^

[xXJawruWolfXx]

Absolute genius :D

[wikct2]

The shouting adds another dimension to the music. The sololist is not just playing the instrument but also playing the part.