It's not often that a guzheng takes center stage in Tucson, which makes Tuesday's concert such an exciting treat.
The University of Arizona Department of East Asian Studies and School of Music are teaming up to present the mother-daughter guzheng team Xiaoyue Wang and Yang Yi. Pianist and UA doctoral student Astrid Chan will accompany Yang Yi on an arrangement of "Xichu bawang," and the UA's Chinese music ensemble Summer Thunder will perform.
Xiaoyue Wang is a distinguished professor and former department chair of the Tianjin (China) Conservatory of Music's National Music Instrument Department. Her daughter also teaches at the conservatory.
The 22-string guzheng traces its lineage to the ancient Chinese zither from 2,500 years ago. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution, the instrument has enjoyed renewed popularity, including in the West.
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In Tucson, though, we've witnessed only a handful of guzheng concerts, including renowned Chinese artist Li Ma, who performed with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in late 2006.
Xiaoyue Wang has been playing the guzheng for nearly 50 years. In addition to being a virtuoso, she also is a prize-winning composer and author. UA officials said she will donate a set of her books to the university to promote cultural exchange.
Summer Thunder Chinese Music Ensemble is composed of UA students and community members whose main goal is to perform traditional Chinese music on traditional instruments. The group is directed by Andrew Wilt.
Tuesday's concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Crowder Hall, North Park Avenue and East Speedway. Admission is free; 621-2998.
