..:: audio-music dot info ::..


Main Page     The Desert Island     Copyright Notice
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz


The Kronos Quartet: Tan Dun - Ghost Opera

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Nonesuch Records
Released: 1997.03.18
Time:
 35:44
Category: Classical
Producer(s): Philip Glass
Rating: *******... (7/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.kronosquartet.org
Appears with: Philip Glass
Purchase date: 2003.12.25
Price in €: 1,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


Tan Dun: Ghost Opera for String Quartet and Pipa
[1] Act I. Bach, Monks and Shakespeare Meet in Water - 8:55
[2] Act II. Earth Dance - 6:47
[3] Act III. Dialogue with "Little Cabbage" - 3:13
[4] Act IV. Metal and Stone - 10:09
[5] Act V. Song of Paper - 6:40

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


The Kronos Quartet:
DAVID HARRINGTON - Violin, Water Bowl, Bowed Gong, One Stringed Lute, Cymbals, Stones
JOHN SHERBA - Violin, paper Whistle, Cymbals, Stones, One Stringed Lute, Water Bowl, Bowed Gong
HANK DUTT - Viola, Vocals, Cymbals, Stones, Water Bowl, Bowed Gong
JOAN JEANRENAUD - Cello, Vocals, Water Bowl, Bowed Gong

WU MAN - Pipa, Soprano Voices, Vocals, Bowed Gong, Tam-tam, Tibetian bels, Paper

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


For Tan Dun's Ghost Opera, the Kronos Quartet had their instrumental abilities stretched to include various percussion, wind instruments, and vocals and were joined by pipa virtuoso Wu Man. The first sound one hears is a hand being drawn through a bowl of water. Soon, strains of Bach appear, accompanied by the pipa, an ancient Chinese lute, and the voiced prayer of a monk. Bach figures into much of the work, in fact, as if being played by a traveling string quartet making their way through back-country China. The piece slides comfortably between these areas, the strings sometimes taking on an Asian character that compliments the Baroque allusions in an oddly effective manner. The music is generally soft in nature with, aside from the Bach, frequent references to Chinese folk songs of a pastoral quality. It's almost lulling at times, though there's enough subtlety of detail to keep the attentive listener engaged. Those who only cottoned to Tan Dun after his success several years after this recording, with the soundtrack to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, should enjoy this carefully considered, meditative piece.

Brian Olewnick - All Music Guide



Tan Dun verschweißt die jahrtausendalte chinesische Totenklage der traditionellen "Geisteroper" mit Bach-Zitaten und elementaren Geräuschklängen von Papier, Wasser, Metall zu einem berückenden Zyklus, dessen stillem Zauber man sich kaum entziehen kann. So wird das so fremde ostasiatische Idiom hörbar, verstehbar, erfahrbar.

P. Korfmacher in FonoForum 8/97
 

 L y r i c s


Currently no Lyrics available!

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


Currently no Samples available!