Explore the world of Chinese music at Chicago’s architectural masterpiece! Please join us in experiencing Rhythms of China at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park. This eclectic concert showcases lively contemporary chamber music for percussion, strings, traditional Chinese instruments, electronics, piano, saxophone, and chorus, and includes the world premiere of 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner Zhou Long’s “Taigu Rhyme III,” for saxophone, cello, and two percussion and the Midwest premiere of Neil Rolnick’s “The Economic Engine,” for traditional Chinese quartet, string quartet and electronics, as well as works by internationally acclaimed composers Tan Dun and Gu Guan Ren. The Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS) received a prestigious Encore grant from the American Composers Forum to support a series of Chicago-based performances of the Rolnick work.
WHEN: Sunday, July 31 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm
VENUE: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.,
between Michigan Ave. and Columbus Ave., Chicago
INFO: Admission is free.
PROGRAM INCLUDES:
• Tan Dun: Elegy: Snow in June for four percussionists and cello – Third Coast Percussion with Chris Wild, cello
• Neil Rolnick: The Economic Engine (Chicago Premiere) – Yang Wei, pipa; Alexander Li, erhu; Yuqi Deng, Guzheng; Clay Condon, Marimba; Austin Wulliman and Blagomira Lipari, Violin; Dave Moss, violin; Jeremy Ward, cello; Neil Rolnick, electronics; Michael Lewanski, Conductor
• Zhou Long: Taigu Rhyme III (World Premiere) for Saxophone, Cello, and Two percussionists – special adaptation written for this concert – Masa Sugihara, Saxophone; Clay Condon, percussion; Robert Dillon, percussion; and Sophie Webber, cello
• Gu Guan Ren: Lady Hua Mulan for Pipa and Piano – Yang Wei, pipa; Katherine Jui Chang, piano
• The Cheng Da Percussion Ensemble and CFAS Chorus will open the concert
This program was curated by violinist MingHuan Xu and pianist Winston Choi, who together form Duo Diorama, CFAS Artists in Residence for 2011-12.
A Preview of this concert will take place on 98.7 WFMT on July 18 at 4:00 PM.
The Economic Engine will be previewed in the Live from Chinatown Concert Series on July 23 at 1 PM in Ping Tom Park, 300 West 19th St. in Chicago.
A Gala Reception, featuring an eight course Chinese banquet and silent auction, will be held immediately following the concert, in the Choral Rehearsal Room, backstage at the Pritzker.
Tickets start at $125 per person ($100 for CFAS members), and all proceeds will go towards funding future concerts presented by the Chinese Fine Arts Society. Tickets can be purchased at the CFAS Store or by calling 312-369-3197.
