February 14, 2008
Wu Man brings Chinese pipa music to Meany Feb. 23
Wu Man, the undisputed master of the Chinese pipa, an ancient lute-like instrument, will give a concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 as part of the UW World Series at Meany Hall. Performing with her is a Chinese shawm band — a band that performs a style of gypsy music rarely seen outside of China and that has its roots in the customs and traditions of 16th-century imperial China.
Having been brought up in the Pudong School of pipa-playing (one of the most prestigious classical styles of Imperial China), Wu Man is now recognized for her outstanding performances of traditional repertoire. She is also considered the leading interpreter of contemporary pipa music created by such composers Terry Riley, Philip Glass, Lou Harrison, Tan Dun, Bright Sheng, Chen Yi, Zhou Long, and Bun-Ching Lam, to name just few.
Wu Man collaborates with some of the most distinguished musicians and conductors performing today, including Yo-Yo Ma, David Zinman, Yuri Bashmet, Cho-liang Lin, Dennis Russell Davies, Christoph Eschenbach, Gunther Herbig, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Stern, David Robertson, and the Kronos Quartet. She is a principal member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, an artistic and educational organization founded by Ma to study the ebb and flow of artistic ideas along the ancient silk trade route.
The Chinese shawm band features the shawm (a long reed instrument) and percussion. Shawm bands are an integral part of village ceremonies and their music provides an extreme contrast to the refined world of the pipa.
Ticket holders are invited to come early to learn more about this master musician and shawm music at a pre-show lecture. UW World Series pre-show lectures begin 45 minutes prior to curtain and take place in the Meany Hall west lobby.
Tickets are $32 ($20 for students) and may be purchased by phone at 206-543-4880, online at www. http://www.uwworldseries.org/, or in person at the UW Arts Ticket Office.
