The lunchtime concert at Marama Hall on Wednesday was a celebration of world music, specifically Chinese and Scottish.
Performing were Associate Prof Min Lei from Jiangxi (China), Sam Darling (bagpipes), Hamish Prince (bass drum), Sam Coutts (snare drum), Tom McGrath (piano) and Tessa Peterson (violin).
The Scottish selection was excellent, including a pleasant mix of short traditional pipe band pieces, and arrangements of modern sets.
It was unusual to be close enough to really appreciate the various percussion patterns and the precise delivery of familiar tunes from the piper.
Min Lei performed on the guzheng, a Chinese zither which is one of the most ancient of China's plucked string instruments, dating from about 273BC.
The sound and resonance from this quite large horizontal instrument creates graceful, harp-like music (a big contrast to the pipes and drums) but also the performer can generate intense feisty textures and considerable volume when required.
With English translated titles such as High Mountain and Running River dating from 1425, and a contemporary piece Regret and Hate of Lin'an, dynamic contrast and sound pictures were very impressive.
The latter written in 1992 and performed on Wednesday with piano was especially dramatic, a work of strong character with outstanding passages of anger and agitation.
The violin blended equally beautifully with this 'zheng.
In A Fishing Boat Song at Dusk it was so easy for the listener to envisage a blissful evening harbour scene.
The final two items were Chinese repertoire arranged for violin and piano.
Jasmine Flower based on a South China folksong was delightfully lyrical, but Why are the flowers so red? was my favourite.
This music based on a Tajik folksong from the northwest of China was richly melodic.
Haunting passages traversed many moods, and recurring dance-like pulse and flavour reminiscent of East European gypsy music generated a most enjoyable duet, which I and the smaller-than-usual lunchtime audience would love to hear again.
- Elizabeth Boman
Marama Hall Wednesday Lunchtime Concert
World Music Concert, Wednesday, July 20
