Village Tales - Winner of the West Coast Music award for Best World Music!
Village Tales features twelve traditional folk songs translated into English, arranged for cross-cultural instrumentation, and performed in both English and Mandarin by duets from both cultures. The accompanying 40 page CD booklet contains sheet music for all the songs with lyrics in both languages, Chinese pronunciation keys, and background on the instruments and songs, making the music truly accessible to people of all cultures.
There is also a teacher-designed study guide for those who want to extend their personal interest in Chinese culture, just simply contact www.silkroadmusic.ca
Based in Vancouver BC, Silk Road Music is a professional ensemble that has been touring and recording since 1991. From festivals to symphony halls, the group has garnered fantastic reviews from audiences and media for its virtuosic skills and artistry. Its last two CDs have won Best World Music Album at the West Coast Music Awards. Their debut CD, Endless was nominated for a JUNO. The new CD Autumn Cloud was nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Award in the category “Pushing the Boundaries” and "Best Ensemble".
“Silk Road Spins ‘Village Tales’...with the aim of showcasing traditional Chinese music in a performance setting,Silk Road Music has since evolved,fusing varied traditional styles of Chinese music with diverse musical influences...”
Larry LeBlanc
Billboard (USA)
“... We purchased your new CD and listen to it all the time. (We are presently learning Mandarin and are picking up some of the Chinese lyrics in the songs!...”
Yu Fen Lan(Vancouver)
Village Tales presents exciting Chinese traditional music with new interpretation and techniques Silk Road has gained in the past 10 years from its new homeland, Canada. The arrangements are bold and colorful, combining pipa, (Chinese lute) played by Qiu Xia He, ruan (Chinese guitar) played by Zhimin Yu, Erhu (Chinese violin) by Shirley Yuan, Dizi (Chinese Flute) by Jian Min Pan, guitar,oud played by André Thibault, percussion by Celso Machado and bass by Laurence Mollerup.
In addition to Silk Road’s strong performance skills and virtuosity with instruments, Village Tales features English singing by Vancouver opera sensation and bass guitarist Willy Miles. With the dynamic Chinese vocalist Feng Jun Wang singing in Mandarin, these outstanding singers contribute their excellent theatrical background and vocal training to the production, bringing Village Tales to the stage with all the essential aspects and dynamics of the Chinese folk tradition. The other featured guest singers are: Michael Friedman, Dorothy Liu,Siri Oleson, Lin Wei Xu and Katherine Goheen.
Silk Road Music is one of the few Chinese touring ensembles in North America with performances at all the major Festivals in Canada. Its music has been featured on CBC’s Asian music compilation and as part of the Canadian Parliament Sound and Light Show. In the South of France, a BBC international live recital recorded in the UK. with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama, featured with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for the Asian month.
Throughout its travels, the group has earned a greater appreciation for the potential of music in intercultural communication while their audiences have come away with a greater understanding for Chinese music.
“They are true ambassadors of culture!”
丝绸之路中乐团是一个活跃在北美主流社会中的中国专业音乐团体。自从１９９１年在加拿大温哥华成立后，乐团走遍了北美所有的主要城市，在众多的艺术节和音乐会中受到世界各地观众的赞扬。丝绸之路中乐团以其独特的艺术风格和精彩的表演技巧，为中国音乐的普及和弘扬搭起了一座坚实的桥梁。
丝绸之路中乐团除在加拿大完成了近千场音乐会外，并且应英国ＢＢＣ电台和法国南部艺术节特约，前往欧洲录制了实况音乐会和巡回演出。在北美的艺术界，丝绸之路中乐团以其多姿多彩的音乐风格和精心设计的中西合作形式，嬴得了社会的高度评价。乐团的ＣＤ“天涯”和“乡音”先后两次被选为加拿大西部最佳世界音乐唱片。其中“天涯”又被提名于加拿大最高朱诺奖。最新出版的“琵琶行”在加拿大民族音乐奖中被提名为“最佳乐团”和“冲破界线”。
丝绸之路的音乐家都具有多年的专业训练和丰富的表演经验，并且有深厚的艺术修养。乐团由来自中国西安音乐学院的琵琶演奏家何秋霞领队；以中国京剧院的歌唱家王凤君为主，演唱中国民歌；由中国广播乐团优秀的演奏家于志敏弹阮；加拿大著名西班牙吉它手 Andre Thibault 安德鲁蒂博演奏吉它，打击乐；加拿大歌剧院歌唱家 Willy Miles 麦欧威力弹奏贝司，及数十位中外音乐家, 用中英文演唱传统的中国民歌；特约的中国乐器演奏还包括笛子，二胡。他们在艺术中至力于精益求精，博采众长，以创新为荣。多年来，以其坚实的步伐，走出了一条独具加拿大中国移民风格的音乐之路。
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