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The Chinese presence at the Huddersfield Festival in November (see review
in S&H, December
'99) has prompted increased interest in Chinese music, old and
new. Nimbus is an acknowledged leader in introducing unusual musics
to Western listeners. That of China remains strange to us and understandably
meets resistance.
This CD is revelatory. It will not be to everyone's taste, but approached
with open minds and ears the rewards are substantial. It is not 'difficult'
music, indeed first reactions may be that it is too simple and repetitive,
but gradually it all comes into focus. Derived from ancient temple music,
it still flourishes in folk rituals, with a major revival since the end of
the disastrous Cultural Revolution. In northern China wind and percussion
music predominates. Melodies are decorated according to the idiom of each
instrument, and played together in heterophonic patterns.
The Tianjin Ensemble toured Europe in 1993 and made this CD in London.
The lead musician, Li Jinwen, was formerly a Buddhist monk; the others are
peasants. These elderly musicians are all versatile multi-instrumentalists
and singers.
Li Jinwen is a virtuoso performer on the guanzi, a double-reed
wooden pipe. It is often supported by the sheng, a mouth organ with
seventeen pipes, about thirteen of them with reeds. There are 'cloud gongs'
and pitched gongs, barrel drums and cymbals, the melodic instruments
counterpointed by elusive and subtle drum rhythms.
The pieces mostly begin freely, leading to faster, more extrovert sections,
with interludes on percussion and large ritual cymbals. The whole effect
is mesmerising and draws one in. Unusually for me, we played it right through,
with increasing enjoyment.
As always with this Nimbus series, the notes (by Stephen Jones) are comprehensive
and fascinating, with lots of photos. This CD is a wonderful window onto
a strange world which, unlike many natural species, is not now threatened
with extinction. Ritual music in China is alive and well and has much to
offer us. Because I cannot guarantee you will share my pleasure, I give it
a cautious rating, but at Nimbus's very reasonable pricing, why not take
a chance?
Reviewer
Peter Grahame Woolf
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Reviewer
Peter Grahame Woolf
Reviews from previous
months
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Tianjin
Buddhist Music Ensemble
