Past Events
2006
Brunel University Lunchtime Classical Chinese Pipa and Guqin Recital by Cheng Yu: 24 November 2006
A rare opportunity to hear an internationally renowned virtuoso on both the pipa (4-stringed lute) and guqin (7-stringed zither) and former pipa soloist at the China Central Orchestra of Chinese Music.
Date: Friday 24 November 2006
Time: 1.10 to 1.50pm
Venue: Roberts Room, Floor 3, Lecture Centre, Brunel Univesity, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH
ADMISSION FREE
The UK Chinese Ensemble at the Museum of London: 19 November 2006
The Ensemble has been invited to play at the Belonging Exhibition at the Museum of London.
Venue: Museum of London, London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
Time: 2:00-5:00pm
Enquiries: 0879 444 3852
The Silk String Quartet - WOMEX World Music Expo, Seville, Spain: 25- 29 October 2006
The Quartet has great news to announce: it has been selected by WOMEX 2006 Showcase - The World Music Expo - to perform from 25th to 29th October in Seville, Spain. WOMEX
is the world's largest international organisation for world music. Our Quartet is the first Chinese music group ever selected by WOMEX since its inception 12 years ago.
Quote from the email from WOMEX:
"You made it. Congratulations! On behalf of the WOMEX Jury, we invite The Silk String Quartet to perform at WOMEX 2006, the worldwide music expo to be held in Sevilla, Andalusia / Spain,
25-29 October 2006. With over 600 proposals and a mere three dozen slots, yours is an accomplishment to be proud of" - 18th May 2006, WOMEX Office.
NEWS October, 2006 - Silk String Quartet won PRSF and Arts Council Grant
The Silk String Quartet has been awarded a British Music Abroad grant to support its performances at the WOMEX 2006 Showcase. The Quartet is the first Chinese music ensemble to be selected at this international world music festival in a decade and it is one of the only two groups selected from the UK.
NEWS October, 2006 - Silk String Quartet Successful Showcase at the WOMEX 2006 World Music Expo in Seville, Spain
On 26th October, the Silk String Quartet led by Cheng Yu gave a successful performance at the WOMEX Showcase on the Central Stage at the FIBES - Auditorium, Al-Andalus in Seville,
Spain. This is the first time that Chinese music has been featured at this international major festival of world music since WOMEX was established over a decade ago. The Quartet
is one of the only two groups chosen this year from the UK and was selected from over a thousand ensembles worldwide.
The Quartet performed a selection of classical and modern works with their unique instrumentation and their own interpretations. The pieces included "Waterscape Silhouette"
(a contemporary composition), "Darkness of the Night" (Beijing Opera music) and "Flute and Drum at Sunset" (a classical "civil" style piece). This is the Quartet's first
European appearance and has received excellent feedback and acclaim. Already, the Quartet has received concert and tour invitations from the UK, Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
You can view the video clips of the Showcase at here
or here. (Click on October 26).
Cheng Yu with Grand Union Orchestra: 15 October 2006
Grand Union worked with Newham Council to create a Newham World Chorus. It embraces Chinese, Asian and Lithuanian choir groups and musicians from their native cultures including
Baluji Shrivastav, Cheng Yu and others. After working together for a month they performed today at Stratford Town Hall.
Venue: Stratford Town Hall
Early Music Showcase 2006: 29 September, Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Cheng Yu was invited to give a recital at the 2006 Showcase of Early Music. This was a rare opportunity to hear Cheng Yu on the pipa (4-stringed lute) and guqin (7-stringed zither) -
the most celebrated classical Chinese instruments, each with over 2,000 years of history and distinct in character, style, philosophy and aesthetics. Cheng Yu was accompanied by dizi
and xiao bamboo flutes.
The programme included:
Flowing Water (guqin, Secret and Spiritual Score, 1425)
Flute and Drum at Sunset (pipa, civil style, 1790s)
Ambushed on Ten Sides (pipa, martial style, 1818)
Venue: The Music Room, Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Photo: Cheng Yu with lutenist Elizabeth Kenny
Silk String Quartet Concert: 26 September 2006, Cambridge Launch of Dragon Cambridge International (UK - China Business Link)
The Silk String Quartet was invited to play at the inauguration of Dragon Cambridge International. The company provides liaison between UK and China for personal and business
clients (www.dragoncambridge.com). The quartet played a selection of traditional and regional Chinese pieces as well as popular and classical Western music.
9:00pm
Venue: Library House, Station Road, Cambridge
China-West Fusion Music Concert: 12 September 2006, London NW1
Celebrating the inauguration of China Telecom (Europe) Ltd.
The UK Chinese Ensemble and China Arts were invited to present a specially designed Concert for the inauguration of
China Telecom (Europe) Ltd (www.chinatelecomeurope.com) today.
The programme featured two of the best Chinese and Western ensembles in the UK, the Silk String Quartet (led by Dr Cheng Yu) and the Chamber Music Company (led by Mark Troop).
They played a selection of well-known Chinese and Western classical and popular music as well as fusion music based on both musical cultures.
The programme included:
The Silk String Quartet:
Full of Joy (by Liu Mingyuan)
Dance of the Golden Snake (By Nie Er)
Moving Up (Cantonese music)
Radetzky March (Strauss)
The Chamber Music Company:
Flute Trio in D, First Movement (Haydn)
Trio in B flat, First Movement (Mozart)
A Minuet for Clarinet and Piano (Howells)
Song of Four Seasons (Popular Chinese melody)
The China-West Ensemble - Chinese-Western fusion
Greensleeves (Traditional English)
Jasmine Flower (Traditional Chinese)
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart)
Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 noon
Venue: The Landmark Hotel , Marylebone Road, London
Chinese music and dance featured in London Notting Hill Carnival: 28 August, 2006 - A rare appearance of Chinese Arts after 42 years
On the 28th August 2006, the UK Chinese Ensemble in collaboration with China Arts successfully presented a Chinese fan dance team with female student performers wearing beautiful
traditional qipao (embroidered silk gowns) and parading the streets around Notting Hill. Their fresh appearance and elegant manner was unusually well received with much applause
along the entire route of the Carnival. Early this year, the UK Chinese Ensemble and China Arts were invited to organise a performance team to represent Chinese community reflecting
the multicultural spirit in Britain at this Europe's biggest and most spectacular street festival. The UK Chinese Ensemble and China Arts will build on this initiative to develop a
more artistic and substantial carnival troupe next year. For more information see the CCTV and Xinhua News Agency sites:
http://news.cctv.com/wangbo/20060829/103237.shtml
http://www.xhby.net/xhby/content/2006-08/29/content_1382747.htm
Chinese Music Summer School: 29 July - 2 August and 3-5 August, 2006
Following the success of the 2005 Chinese Music Summer School, Asian Music Circuit was delighted to present the 2006 Chinese Music Summer School, giving five full days of expert tuition
on Chinese instrumental music. This included masterclasses on the guqin (Chinese 7-string zither) with guqin master Gong Yi, pipa (Chinese lute) with pipa virtuoso Cheng Yu, dizi (Chinese flute)
with dizi player Wang Ciheng and erhu (Chinese fiddle) with erhu soloist Hu Bin. This was a rare opportunity to learn and explore Chinese music in the UK. Classes were open to all takers,
beginners and advanced.
There was also a Chinese Music Summer School for children, (7 - 16 years old), dates 3rd to 5th August.
The Summer School was held at the Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London.
Chinese and Japanese Plucked Instruments: Tuesday 1 August, 2006
Gong Yi (guqin)
Cheng Yu (pipa)
Etsuko Takezawa (koto)
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music
This concert was held in conjunction with the Chinese Music Summer School (See above)
Chinese and Japanese Concert: Wednesday 2 August, 2006
Wang Ciheng (dizi)
Hu Bin (erhu)
Hiroshi Motofuji (taiko)
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music
This concert was held in conjunction with the Chinese Music Summer School (See above)
The Silk String Quartet performed at CITY SHOWCASE 2006: "CHINESE SHOWCASE": Wednesday, 7 June, 2006
Venue: The CC Club, 13 Coventry Street, London W1D 7DH
For further information, please visit http://www.chineseshowcase.co.uk
China has designated the second Saturday of June as an annual Cultural Heritage Day
This is very good news for Chinese music, especially guqin music which was designated by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. For further information please see:
http://www.chineseculture.net/guqin/newsletters/news/chinaheritageday.htm
http://www.chinastyle.cn/essential/intangible-heritage/
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-02/09/content_4154710.htm
http://www.yq.gov.cn/newsday/gnxw/20062981513.htm
http://www.ben.com.cn/BJRB/20060208/GB/BJRB^19248^13^08R1330.htm
http://bbs17.xilu.com/cgi-bin/bbs/view?forum=clearland&message=205
London Youlan Qin Society yaji (elegant gathering): 21 May, 2006
An informal gathering of guqin (Chinese 7-string zither) enthusiasts to play and discuss the qin and its music in Twickenham. Click here for details.
Filming and recording project in China: April 8-25 2006
Cheng Yu and a team from Asian Music Circuit travelled to China to interview and film musicians in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xi'an.
Chinese music at the Royal Academy of Art: 6 April 2006
Members of the UK Chinese Ensemble were commissioned to perform before an invited audience.
Internet radio programme about the 5-string pipa project: April, 2006
Available at http://www.birst.co.uk/music/ChengYu/index.htm.
Silk and Bamboo performance at the Royal Academy of Art: 7 March 2006 7:00pm
Cheng Yu performed with the Silk and Bamboo Ensemble based at the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Venue: Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD
London Youlan Qin Society yaji (elegant gathering) at SOAS: 4 March, 2006
An informal gathering of guqin (Chinese 7-string zither) enthusiasts to play and discuss the qin and its music. Click here for details.
Concert at Asia Festival in Ludlow, Shropshire: 24 February, 2006, 7.30pm
The UK Chinese Ensemble played a full concert of Chinese music old and new as part of the Asia Festival in Ludlow Assembly Hall. There was a pre-concert workshop at 6pm. Musicians featured:
Cheng Yu - pipa (4-stringed lute) and guqin (7-stringed zither)
Qiu Zenghui - erhu and jinghu (2-stringed violins)
Li Ming - yangqin (hammered dulcimer) and dizi (bamboo flutes)
The programme included:
Flute and Drum at Sunset (Traditional, civil style, 1818 score)
Purple Bamboo Melody (Folk, 'Silk and Bamboo' music, Shanghai)
Flowing Water (classical guqin masterpiece, 1425 score)
Journey to Gusu (dizi flute solo, 1982 )
Scenery of Beijing Suburbs (Beijing Opera music, 1991)
Venue: Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 1 Mill Street, Ludlow.
Chinese Music performance at Hong Kong Tourist Board: 22 February, 2006, 7pm
Cheng Yu and the musicians of the UK Chinese Ensemble will perform at the New Year Celebration of Hong Kong Tourist Board in London.
http://www.DiscoverHongKong.com/mice
Music, Dance performance in St. Albans: 19 February, 2006, 2-5pm
Artists and musicians of the UKCE will take part in Chinese New Year celebration show at St. Albans Chinese Community Centre.
Chinese Music at Asia House - celebrate the Lantern Festival: 18th February, 2006, 1-5pm
Cheng Yu on the pipa and Sun Zhuo on the guzheng will perform well-known Chinese music pieces to celebrate the Lantern Festival. The celebration is organised by
Mother Bridge of Love and the British Chinese Community organisation 'Dimsum'.
Venue: Asian House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London.
Classical Chinese Music recital, Trinity-At-Bowes Church, London: 11 February, 2006, 7:30pm
A rare opportunity to hear Cheng Yu - an internationally renowned virtuoso on the pipa (4-stringed lute) and guqin (7-stringed zither). These two most celebrated Chinese
classical instruments are distinct in character, style and aesthetics and each has 2,000 years of history. Guqin music is rarely heard in China, let alone abroad. Cheng Yu is the only
professional guqin player in Britain. She will play a section of traditional and modern masterpieces to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
"She is a brilliant exponent creating beauty with amazing dexterity" - Songlines.
Venue: TaB Centre Plus, Trinity-at-Bowes Methodist Church, Palmerston Road, Palmers Green.
Music and Dance performance in Islington: 11 February, 2006, 1-2pm
Musicians and dancers of the UK Chinese Ensemble will be performing traditional Chinese music and dance, including a Lion Dance for an Islington Children's Centre.
Venue:
Fortune Park SureStart Children's Centre
Surestart Islington South Head Office
St Lukes Centre, 90 Central Street
London EC1V 8AQ
Tel: 020 7336 0285
Woman's Hour Interview (BBC Radio 4): 3 February, 2006
BBC Radio 4 broadcast an interview with Cheng Yu. She talked about Chinese music, and in particular about her 5 string pipa project and the new compositions commissioned for it.
Music, dance and other performances at the Victoria and Albert museum: 28 and 29 January 2006
During Chinese New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, musicians and artists performed Chinese music, dancing, stilt walking, calligraphy and other artistic activities at the Victoria and
Albert Museum in London.
Venue: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7
Music and performances 4-day show: 11am-5pm, 21, 25, 27 and 29 January, 2006
To celebrate Chinese New Year, the performances included Beijing Opera, Music, stilt walking etc.
Manchester Arndale Centre - Saturday 21 January
Bristol - Broadmead - Wednesday 25 January
Birmingham - Bullring - Friday 27 January
London - Soho Square - Sunday 29 January
Music performance, City Hall, London: 26 January 2006
The UK Chinese Ensemble performed Chinese music at the launch of the Greater London Authority's (GLA) China in London season for 2006.
Venue: City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1
Film music recording: The Boat People, 23-25 January, 2006
Cheng Yu composed and improvised with composer and blues guitarist Neil McArthur and film director Rob Curry to provide music for the new film "The Boat People". The film will feature classical/traditional guqin (7-stringed zither) music and improvisations as the main music of the film. For details about the film please visit: http://www.fifthcolumn.org.uk
Music and Beijing Opera at the National Early Music Centre - 21 and 22 January 2006, 7.00pm
The musicians of the UK Chinese Ensemble performed with Beijing Opera artists to present a double bill of both traditional and modern music, as well as excerpts from some of the
best-known Beijing Operas. Musicians featured were Cheng Yu (pipa and qin), Qiu Zenghui (jinghu and erhu), and Li Ming (yangqin dulcimer) and Beijing
Opera actress Ione Meyer.
There were be workshops during the day on January 22nd.
The National Early Music Centre
St. Margaret's Church, Walmgate, York
School workshop/performances Chinese Arts Week - 16-20 January, 2006
Artists of the UK Chinese Ensemble conducted a week-long workshop at Davinton Primary School, providing music, dance, calligraphy and ink-brush painting. This was part of the school's
multi-cultural programme to celebrate Chinese New Year and culture.
Venue: Davinton Primary School, Priory Row, Faversham, Kent.
Biwa, pipa and oud fest, SOAS concert series: Wednesday 18 January, 2006
Junko Ueda (Japanese satsuma biwa)
Cheng Yu (Chinese pipa)
Ahmed Mukhtar (Arabic oud)
These three widely recorded artists introduced the pear-shaped lutes of their cultures in a unique comparative concert. Each performer showcased their instrument via both a traditional
and a modern piece, and the evening concluded with a short jam session.
Venue: Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS, University of London.