Liu Fang Pipa and Guzheng solo recitals Chinese music from the classical tradition
for venues relevant to classical and/or traditional music
"There was just one musician, but ten talented fingers" - Sir Ian McKellen at BBC Concert, London (2004)
"True ambassadress of the art of the pipa and Zheng" (Véritable ambassadrice de l'art du pipa et du Zheng) - Liberté de L'Est (France), 2004.
"a intermédiare which corresponds completely to the magic of the music of Liu Fang, divine mediator" (un intermédiare qui correspond tout à fait à la magie de la musique de Liu Fang, médiatrice divine) -World (france), 2006.
"The audience was enchanted, subjugated by this splendid sound. While playing, Liu Fang becomes one with her instrument. … Liu Fang is a musician of exception; she represents the charm, the grace, and all magic of the East." (Le public était sous le charme, subjugué par ce son magnifique. Lorsqu'elle joue; Liu Fang fait corps avec son instrument. ... Liu Fang est une musicienne d'exception, elle représente le charme; la grâce, toute la magie de l'Orient. ) - Olonne-sur-Mer, le journal Ouest-France, 2004.
"Masterful, graceful and riveting" BBC (London, UK) 2004).
Liu Fang’s total devotion to her playing has moved her beyond perfect execution to the creativity and flexibility that marks a true musician." - - fROOTS Magazine, UK, 06.2006("more ...).
The renowned musicologist, Prof. Tran Van Khe (master of traditional Vietnamese music, professor of the University of the Sorbonne in Paris) described Liu Fang's first solo recital in Paris in 1999, "A veritable feast for the ears, eyes, heart and soul of a choice public, attentive and knowledgeable.
With such an accomplished musician, the great technical hurdles are forgotten in passing effortlessly and serenely into a marvellous musical paradise" ....
"the empress of pipa ... one of the greatest virtuosos" (L'actualité, 2001)
For detailed list of press reviews and their sources, information about Liu Fang, her instruments and her music, and booking information, please visit www.philmultic.com. Thank you!
Influences
"What is your music influence? what is the defining characteristic
of classical Chinese music that you convey in your playing? ... " - Interview with Liu Fang by Paula E. Kirman.
Traditional Classical music (as contrast to traditional folk music) has a long history in China. Musical idea is quite often connected with Chinese philosophy, particularly Taoist philosophy - about Yin and Yang, harmony and contrast etc, which is again related to Chinese calligraphy, Chinese traditional painting, and Chinese classical poems. See some of the examples for painting and calligraphy, and the interview article, or check Liu Fang's blogs.
Chinese calligraphy by Prof. Yau
Duo improvisation Liu Fang and Malcolm Goldstein Avant-Garde free style improvisation
New album to be released soon, with Violinist Malcolm Goldstein, internationally renowned maestro of freestyle improvisation.
A musical collaboration with the theme of "East meets West" and "traditions confront with modernity". Check here for detailed discription and audio samples from previous collaborations.
Chinese music - classical music from traditional China, traditional folkroot music, and contemporary music - and beyond ...
Pipa soloist Liu Fang
Liu Fang is internationally acclaimed virtuoso performer of pipa (Chinese lute or guitar) and guzheng (Chinese zither or harp). She was born in Kunming (China) in 1974 and started her music career early as child prodigy. She moved to Canada shortly after graduation from the Shanghai Conservatory and started an impressive international music career as soloist. In the past decade Liu Fang has given numerous solo concerts, including venues such as SettemberMusica MiTo (2007), the Theatre de la Ville in Paris (2006) and Philharmonic Hall of Liege (Belgium, 2006), BBC concerts in London (2004, 2007), Radio-Canada concerts in Canada as well as international music festivals such as Lewes Guitar Festival, the International Bath Festival and WOMAD in UK; the Chord Ennis International Music Festival (for classical guitar) in Ireland; Festival de Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, Festival des musiques du monde les suds à Arles and
Festival Les Escales de Saint Nazaire in France, TFF Rudolstadt in Germany, and most of the major folk music festivals in Canada. Liu Fang has also performed with orchestras and string quartets, and collaborated with great musicians from various music traditions.
Liu Fang's music playing has received ravish reviews from the media and the audience alike.
Liu Fang's repertory includes Chinese music of both classical and folk traditions, contemporary music for pipa and guzheng solo, compositions for pipa with string quartet, and
pipa concertos with orchestra, as well as free style improvizations. Liu Fang also collaborates with master musicians from various cultural backgrounds and musicial traditions. She has received a number of grants from the Canada Council of the Arts and from Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec for various projects. In 2001, she received the prestigious Future Generations Millennium Prize. In the jury's words: "Liu Fang's mastery of the pipa and the guzheng has established her international reputation as a highly talented young interpreter of traditional Chinese music. She aspires to combine her knowledge and practice of eastern traditions with western classical music, contemporary music and improvisation, thereby creating new musical forms, uniting different cultures and discovering new audiences."
Pipa, one of the oldest Chinese traditional music instruments, is four stringed lute that belongs to the same family as guitar, oud, and many others. Guzheng is another traditional Chinese instrument with 19-26 strings (commonly 21 strings today) spanned over movable bridges. Guzheng is the parent of Japanese koto, Korean kayagum, Vietnamese dan tranh and Mongolian Yagta. They all belong to the zither family. Both pipa and guzheng have well documented history of over 2000 years.
Pipa and percussion duet "The night of the Bonfire Fest" (Huobajie zhi ye), composed by Wu Junsheng for pipa solo, performed by Liu Fang, accompanied by Ziya Tabassian on framed drum.(Curtesy of CH Montreal, Chinese TV Channel, Mr. Zhou Fan).
[August 2008]Philmultic
proudly announce the release of the new CD of duo pipa & guitar entitled "Changes" Liu Fang
& Michael O'Toole
The
combination of pipa and guitar gives an incredibly fresh perspective
to existing masterpieces from traditional Chinese repertoire to composers such as Vivaldi, Bartok, Philip Glass and Piazzolla. In addition to this, the recording
contains beautifully sensitive performances of new works by Ian Wilson
and Toshiyuki Haraoki (world premiere). Through the wide varied nature of the repertoire on
the cd we would like to show how successful this combination can be
in the hands of two such talented musicians.
For more information
and music samples, click here
Pipa solo albumsThe soul of pipa Vol. 1-3 (3 volumes) are an anthology to Chinese pipa music. They represent
respectively the most ancient classical repertoire for which composers remains
anonyms (Vol. 1); the time evolution of classical repertoire from the ancient
traditions to the recent compositions (Vol. 2), and the various folk roots from
different parts of China (Vol. 3). It is a great work on pipa music done by a single musician, "
...a veritable feast of alluring
sounds, ranging from the eloquent and lyrical to the flamboyant and percussive.
The varied soundscape produced by one player and one instrument is quite dazzling.
Liu Fang's masterly technique (e.g. tremolo, delicate harmonics, lyrical
tunes, and boisterous percussive effects), as well as the music itself - which
is based on short sections characterized by ever-changing tempos and dynamics
- all evoke an improvised and exciting quality..." - The wholenote
Magazine, 2003.
Guzheng solo album - Emerging
Lotus (Chinese traditional guzheng music) consists of 7 pieces from the classical tradition, 2 recent compositions,
and 3 folk tunes
collaborations - 4 albums of different collaborations
in duo and ensembles, including the most recent one under the French label "Accords Croises" - Le son de soie which received French Acedemy
Charles Cros award in 2006.
Music and friendship - A true story about the guqin master Boya and his friend Zhiqi, see Liu Fang's Blogs.
"There was just one musician, but ten talented fingers" - 
[August 2008]Philmultic
proudly announce the release of the new CD of duo pipa & guitar entitled "Changes"
