China: Time To Listen [Box]

構成数 : 3
合計収録時間 : 02:55:48
Compilation producer: Josef Bomback. Includes booklet with extensive notes and interviews by Josef Bomback and Elyn Macinnis. Personnel: Xuan Ke (vocals, erhu); Dadon, Yang Zenglie (vocals); Tang Liangxing, Su Ning, Wu Man (pipa); Koras Rajap (rawap); Zhang Bao-Li (erhu, gaohu); Zhao Xin (erhu); Xi Qiang (banhu); Zhang Xiu Li (cello); Zhang Wei-Liang (xun); Shan Wen Tong (guanzi); Li He (bawu); Shan Weiwei (sheng); Sun Zhicheng, Li Xinchen (percussion); Yu Xin (zhong ruan); Chen Tao (dizi); Zhao Zhon-Ren, Zhang Xia, Sisi Chen (yang-chin). Director: Li Zhengui. Editors: Larry Birnbaum; Josef Bombak. Photographers: Dadon; Shi-Zheng Chen; Debby Krejsa; Alf Goodrich; Bernard Kleikamp; Li He; Huaxia Chamber Ensemble. Unknown Contributor Roles: Xiu Li; Yang Zenglie; Bian Liu Nian. This three-CD set takes a broad look at the rich and varied musical traditions arising out of our planet's most populated nation. An encyclopedic 54-page full-color booklet supplies information on the country as a whole, and includes track-by-track information. It is the third CD in this set, "Spirit and Wisdom", which proves the most striking. Here, the meditative, spiritual music from the land of pagodas is sampled. Especially beautiful and moving is the near a cappella performance of Tibetan pop star Dadon, followed by the equally impressive and shimmering exhibition of the Chinese pipa (lute) by Wu Man. China is a vast and diverse land, home to 54 different ethnic minorities, and disc two, "Many Faces" introduces 20 of those cultures. "Gongs and Drums of the Peking Opera" and the joyous "The Planting Song" are just two of the stand-out tracks on this disc. The lead collection, "Sounds of Our Stories", gives several examples of the traditional way of storytelling through music: in painting a story, the musicians here convey a great deal of emotion and vivid metaphor through their pieces. Try to hear "The Rain Falls on the Leaves of the Banana Tree" and not picture just such a dripping rain forest scene as the title implies. The music is easily appreciable, possessing a bright and human splendor. Production is superb -- an audiophile's dream -- throughout most of the set. Contact information on the artists and notes on originating recordings is covered for each selection. ~ Tom Schulte
録音 : ステレオ (Studio)