Chinese Traditional | San Francisco, CA
Melody of China is a San Francisco-based Chinese chamber ensemble. Begun in 1993 by a group of enthusiastic musicians from Mainland China, Melody of China’s mission is two-fold: “to provide rich musical entertainment through the synergy of ancient Chinese tradition with youthful, diverse American culture; and to promote classical and modern Chinese music.” Their dedication to taking on new works by contemporary composers in addition to traditional material is what makes them a leading Chinese music ensemble. The organization’s co-founders, Hong Wang and Yangqin Zhao have succeeded in bringing Chinese instruments out of obscurity and into the mainstream of Bay Area culture.
Melody of China features and showcases Chinese traditional instruments including yangqin (hammered dulcimer), guzheng (zither), erhu (two-stringed fiddle), pipa (lute), sheng (mouth organ), dizi (bamboo flutes), Chinese percussion and other instruments. Melody of China artists includes Chair and Executive/Artistic Director Yangqin Zhao on yangqin, Gangqin Zhao on guzheng, Thomas Lee on erhu, Shenshen Zhang on pipa, Wanpeng Guo on sheng, and Xian Lu and Zhouming Xu on dizi. These artists often double on other instruments including Chinese wind instruments (in addition to dizi) and percussion.
Described as “Innovative and Dazzling” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Melody of China performances have broken barriers in combining traditional Chinese music with contemporary works by influential composers such as Kui Dong, Gang Situ, and Yuanlin Chen. Since 1993, Melody of China has commissioned over 40 new works by 20 contemporary composers and has performed at numerous Bay Area schools and venues including Davies Symphony Hall, Herbst Theatre, Old First Church, UCSF, USF, and others. Although keeping one foot firmly planted in tradition, The group has led many innovative and experimental projects, such as the concerts featuring Songs from Mongolia and the Young Composers Series, where young Bay Area composers are asked to compose music for Chinese instruments.
Melody of China has been a guest artist with the Berlin Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony, appearing in concerts at New York’s Lincoln Center and The Juilliard School, and has performed in major U.S. cities on numerous occasions, including the Chicago World Music Festival, the Lotus Festival, and the Chicago Jazz Festival. Melody of China has performed with jazz ensembles including Francis Wong’s Asian Improv arts and Anthony Brown’s Asian-American Jazz Orchestra. Being strongly tied to the local San Francisco Bay Area arts community, Melody of China has also collaborated with several dance groups, including Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet and the Oakland Ballet.