Articles for Jun 08
City to stage Chinese music World Premiere
Liverpool is to host the World Premiere of an Anglo-Chinese audio-visual spectacular before it embarks on a 10 date UK tour.
Jah Wobble-Chinese Dub, which features a unique 22-piece orchestra, has been specially created by the legendary, maverick composer as a commission by the Liverpool Culture Company for European Capital of Culture.
The World Premiere performance will be on Saturday, 5 July at the Carling Academy from 7pm.
Combining Jah Wobble’s trademark dub with Chinese melodies and instrumentation, the 22-piece outfit features singers from Tibet and Yunnan Province, dancers from Hangzhou, Sichuan Opera Mask Changers, and an Anglo-Chinese dub band made up of bass, drums, guzheng, yangchin, bamboo flute, and gourd pipe.
Wang Jingqi, from the Mao ethnic minority of China (part of Yunnan Province), and Tibetan Gu Ying Ji, provide vocals; Zi Lan Liao, internationally acclaimed guzheng (Chinese zither) player, flautist Clive Bell, guitarist Chris Cookson, drummer Mark Sanders, and percussionist Neville Murray join Jah Wobble in the Anglo-Chinese dub band.
The music is accompanied by displays of two ancient Chinese performing arts: Tang Dynasty Dance, and Mask Change, a specialty of Sichuan Opera. Mask Changing is a magical form of Chinese expressionist theatre, first documented 300 years ago.
Highly dexterous performers use different masks to express a range of emotions; skilled performers can change over ten masks in less than 20 seconds. It takes many years to master the technique, and in China today there are less than 200 artists who are able to perform the Mask Change. Tang Dynasty Dance has developed over thousands of years, evolving from a few simple gestures into the intricate, highly skilled artform it is today. The modern presentation of Tang Dynasty Dance provides an insight into ancient China’s distinct traditions and customs.
Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra (PCYO), the oldest and largest Chinese youth orchestra in Europe, also makes a special appearance at the Liverpool show. Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, the PCYO is made up of young people between the ages of four and 18, all playing Chinese musical instruments.
Fiona Gasper, Executive Producer, Liverpool Culture Company, said: “Jah Wobble - Chinese Dub has been supported through the Liverpool Commissions strand of the 08 programme which celebrates and encourages new and eclectic collaborations between artists.
“We are delighted to be supporting this exciting new work with Jah Wobble and the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra, which will premiere in Liverpool before embarking on a UK tour.”
Jah Wobble's Chinese Dub EP, available FREE as a MP3 stream via 30hertzrecords.com, features seven tracks; a full album is due for release in late 2008. The EP was specially recorded for Liverpool 2008 European Capital of Culture, and includes contributions from the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra.
TOUR DATES
Saturday 5 July: Carling Academy, 11-13 Hotham Street, Liverpool
Box Office: 0151 707 3200; Tickets: £10; Time: 7pm
This date also features the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra, and is supported by The Liverpool Culture Company Ltd as part of the 2008 European Capital of Culture programme
Sunday 6 July: Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Road, London W11
Box Office: 020 8222 6955; Tickets: £10; Time: 7.30pm
Monday 7 July: The Boardwalk, 39 Snig Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Box Office: 0871 230 1095; Tickets: £15; Time: TBA
Tuesday 8 July: The Cluny, 36 Lime Street, Newcastle
Box Office: 0191 230 4474; Tickets: £10; Time: 8pm
Wednesday 9 July: The Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedict's Street, Norwich, Norfolk
Box Office: 01603 660 352; Tickets: £10 advance/£11 door; Time: 8.30pm
Thursday 10 July: The Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
Box Office: 01422 845 265; Tickets: £10; Time: 7.30pm
Friday 11 July: The Flowerpot, Kings Street, Derby
Box Office: 01332 204 955; Tickets: £TBA; Time: TBA
Saturday 12 July: The Met (The Studio), Bury, Lancashire
Box Office: 0161 761 2216; Tickets: £10; Time: 8pm
Monday 14 July: The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Birmingham, West Midlands
Box Office: 0871 472 0400; Tickets: £10 advance/£11 door; Time: 7.30pm
