New Purple Forbidden City Orchestra (CHN): Demonstration

Staff and Guests: New Purple Forbidden City Orchestra (China) – demonstration | discussion

10 member orchestra from the China Conservatory of Music (Beijing), specialising in contemporary music on traditional instruments.

The New Purple Forbidden City Orchestra was formed by China's most famous Pipa Player, Yang Jing and her virtuoso traditional instrument player colleagues, who are engaged in education and performance at Beijing's most prestigious conservatories of music. Individually they have given considerable thought to the contradiction between the traditional music theory system and modern music innovation and practice, to conflicts between the classical aesthetic and the more personality-based modern arts, and to balancing received tradition with the development of a national music of China.

This new ensemble carries on the exceptional legacy of Chinese folk music, and also forges new paths of national music development, both displaying the artistic aspirations of contemporary composers and creating a new context for Chinese music. The music is evocative, refreshingly appealing and accessible. No academic stuffiness here, but fresh, vital and approachable sounds with a decidedly contemporary feel and rhythm. These musicians bring a completely new outlook to traditional Chinese music, Chinese Opera and Chinese Classical music. Their music embodies the considered thought of leading practitioners about the future of Chinese traditional music, and their insight into the balance between the great changes taking place in contemporary Chinese culture and the essential identity of ancient instruments.

Proudly supported by The Peoples Republic of China Oriental Express Music Project

Artists appears by kind permission of the Auckland Arts Festival 2011 Arts and Minds Public Programme.

Arts and Minds: Shifting the parameters of the Auckland Arts Festival experience, Arts and Minds is a series of talks, master classes and workshops offering festival-goers deeper insight into the creative processes of the Festival’s national and international artists.