CHINOISERIE
Duo Chinoiserie
Navona Records NV6417
Globalisation is what made this album, a meeting of the East and West, possible. Both the guitar and the ancient Chinese guzheng are string instruments which are plucked and strummed. While the guitar has six strings, the guzheng‘s 21 to 26 strings is blessed with a wider range of sonorities. Capable of extravagant glissandi or slides, the guzheng player in a Chinese orchestra usually doubles as its harp player. Founded in 2016, both members of Duo Chinoiserie, guitarist Bin Hu and guzheng player Jing Xia, hail from mainland China.
Dong Feng, the title of their debut album, translates from Chinese as “East Wind” or “Airs from the East”. Its contents, comprising both original and transcribed works, are far more eclectic, including compositions by Brazilian, Spanish, Welsh, French, Japanese and French composers. Ironically, no Chinese music or works by Chinese composers have been included. The sole Asian composer is Yusuke Nakanishi, whose Inari is a suite of three short movements inspired by the Japanese harvest festival in honour of the Shinto deity of agriculture. In the zen-like stillness of Invocation, the gentle sounds of both instruments come into focus, contrasted with the more lively rhythms of Fox’s Dance and Festival.
The other original works for this combo have Chinese inspirations. Well-known Brazilian guitarist Sergio Assad’s Mulan is founded upon the adventures of the Chinese peasant girl who cross-dresses to become a warrior (as famously depicted in the Disney animated movie). No Chinese tunes are quoted, nor is pentatonic music a focus, instead interesting timbral textures are explored through tonal means. In the same spirit is Frenchman Mathias Duplessy’s Zhong Kui’s Regrets and Zhong Kui’s Journey. Zhong Kui is the demon-slaying deity commonly seen in Chinese temples sporting a bushy black beard and gruff expression. The two contrasting movements are contemplative and exuberant, reflecting the general benevolence of his character.
The arrangements by Duo Chinoiserie are very idiomatic, bringing out the beauty and essence of well-known pieces such as Granados’ Danza Espanolas No.3 (also called Oriental), and three dances from Manuel de Falla’s El amor brujo (Love, The Magician) including the Dance of Terror and Ritual Fire Dance. Also very enjoyable are transcriptions of Debussy’s The Girl With The Flaxen Hair and Golliwogg’s Cakewalk (from Children’s Corner). Most atmospheric are the duo’s take on five movements from Stephen Goss’ Cantigas de Santiago, originally for solo guitar. Based on sacred and secular medieval songs from Spain, these are a heady confluence of the old and new.
This is a most engaging anthology of exotic and not-so-exotic music, showcasing artistry at the highest level. Ardently recommended listening.
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