A good-sized audience was treated to one of PMD’s rarer presentations: two guitarists, female, and not from Latin America, Iberia, or Nashville, but from China, and they impressed! From the very first note, I was enthralled. The Chaconne (from the Bach Violin Partita # 2) has seen its adaptations, one by Busoni for Piano, and Ulrich Strache, who arranged it for two guitars. Now I’m one of the very few classical music fans who doesn’t like the Violin Partita (the sound of an unaccompanied violin simply grates on my ears…). But this guitar arrangement was pure heaven to me. What a beautiful sound, and what great teamwork this was. Meng Su (who introduced each piece after this) and Yameng Wang , who make up this fine Duo from China’s capital city, showed us what perfection sounds like!
Debussy’s charming “Petite Suite” was composed for piano four-hand and was arranged for guitar four-hand by Meng Su. The Suite is perhaps best-known as arranged for chamber orchestra (which is the version I like best). But the Duo did this version proud. Delightful!
The eminent Chinese composer Tan Dun survived the fearful Cultural Revolution, headed by Madame Mao, and celebrated with his first Opus: “Eight Memories in Watercolor”, premiered by the great pianist Lang Lang. Time constraints limited the Duo to four of the eight. It would have been great to have heard them all. They are so accessible to our Western ears. The four we heard were exemplars of excellent teamwork and musicianship. Western-style music rarely has titles such as “Missing Moon”, “Staccato Beans”, “Blue Nun”, and “Sunrain”. More about that later….
Following Intermission, rural America, by city-boy (Detroit-born John Rake), honoring his guitarist Grandpa in a piece called “Rural Route # 5”, and one wishes it could have been a longer drive! Such enjoyable travel-music! Unmistakably American. Picturesque. In four or five scenes, one could imagine the Wisconsin countryside. Approaching the end, the music slowed down like an old car and stopped. The Duo and the composer received a warm ovation.
The performance of Chin Yi’s “Nian Hua” was, to me, the highlight of the evening. the Duo showed impeccable talents in this virtuosic piece. Numerous Chinese instruments were expressed by the two guitarists: percussive, strumming, glissandi, vibrato, and simply the best rapid unison playing humanly possible. The whimsical titles (like those of the Tan Dun work) added to the charm of it all. Western-style music has recently been eagerly and expertly adopted by Asiatic cultures, and now, we, Americans and Europeans, have gotten to love the beauty and artistry of the East. The cheers from our audience were heartfelt. This was artistry at its best.
What better way to end a Valentine Day’s concert, along with chocolates on each table, and yummy desserts at the Afterglow, than the Tango Suite by Argentina’s Astor Piazzolla. The drum-like rhythm was created by the flat of the hand on the guitar’s body. The first movement used that as a dramatic interpretation rather than an actual dance. The second was a ravishing love-song. The final section was full of rhythms and fireworks. Degree of difficulty: sky high!!
The audience was treated to an encore: “Invitations” by Sergio Assad, who with his brother Odair make up the Assad Duo. Lovely ending. Lovely evening!
For any organization that wishes to have a great evening of music, I highly recommend the Beijing Duo: Meng Su and Yameng Wang!
Recent Comments