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San Bao and his urban orchestra make flamboyant concert debut
By Yang Ruoyu Source:Global Times Published: 2011-12-20 19:13:28
Mongolian maestro San Bao led his urban contemporary orchestra in their debut concert titled "Pass Through" at the Poly Theater in Chaoyang district on Monday night. The 44-year-old Hohhot native fused light Chinese folk music with modern grooves, delivering an evening of entertainment for fans of Chinese and Western music. San Bao's orchestra of more than 30 members formed just over a month ago and performed using a variety of traditional Chinese and Western musical instruments.
The concert opened with The Climbing Half-Moon, which featured the rawap (long-necked Uygur lute) playing the melody before a cello took over along with pipa (stringed traditional Chinese instrument). The echo of orchestral and folk tunes coupled with the buzz of modern electronic and time-honored Central Asian music made audience members feel as if they had been whisked away to a lively bazaar in the heart of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The following song, Little Cabbage, switched up the pace of the concert with its light stringed harmonies and delicate piano accompaniment. Once again, the pipa delivered a hint of ancient China, before an accordion and oboe took over in an audible feast of beauty tinged in bitterness.
Mongolian folk song, Meeting at the Yurt, delivered another surprise to the audience and ensured the concert was filled with musical diversity. In contrast to its traditional-sounding title, the song was characterized by wild jazz with unrestrained percussion. Countering the contemporary tone of the concert, the orchestra played 19 classical Chinese folk songs.
San Bao's orchestra proved the fusion of traditional Chinese sounds with Western music can renew the appeal of Chinese folk songs. Concert producer Hu Jingyun said that the ensemble only began rehearsing for the show on December 1, a feat all the more remarkable given the orchestra's professional arrangement and composition.
The concert opened with The Climbing Half-Moon, which featured the rawap (long-necked Uygur lute) playing the melody before a cello took over along with pipa (stringed traditional Chinese instrument). The echo of orchestral and folk tunes coupled with the buzz of modern electronic and time-honored Central Asian music made audience members feel as if they had been whisked away to a lively bazaar in the heart of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The following song, Little Cabbage, switched up the pace of the concert with its light stringed harmonies and delicate piano accompaniment. Once again, the pipa delivered a hint of ancient China, before an accordion and oboe took over in an audible feast of beauty tinged in bitterness.
Mongolian folk song, Meeting at the Yurt, delivered another surprise to the audience and ensured the concert was filled with musical diversity. In contrast to its traditional-sounding title, the song was characterized by wild jazz with unrestrained percussion. Countering the contemporary tone of the concert, the orchestra played 19 classical Chinese folk songs.
San Bao's orchestra proved the fusion of traditional Chinese sounds with Western music can renew the appeal of Chinese folk songs. Concert producer Hu Jingyun said that the ensemble only began rehearsing for the show on December 1, a feat all the more remarkable given the orchestra's professional arrangement and composition.
Posted in: Metro Beijing