Storytelling in Chinese Music from the Ancient Past through Modern Times

In this presentation, master pipa player Gao Hong will introduce the audience to the storytelling aspects of Chinese music spanning the ages through 2000-year-old traditional pipa music and 21-century new music formats. She will open her presentation with a performance of traditional pipa music, including a 100-year-old piece that was recently reconstructed and a wide array of storytelling pieces in different performance styles taught to her by the 6th-generation definitive Pudong school master Lin Shicheng. Hong’s presentation will also feature pieces from different Chinese minority groups and her own modern compositions. The program will highlight new possibilities in the world of classical music, demonstrating how the 2000-year-old pipa can remain relevant in the 21st century.