[rkb2948]

Any recommendations for something like classical chinese music, or rock with oriental slants? Really anything in that direction?

 

[Sordel]

This is a huge subject on which I'm not qualified to speak, but are you looking for Chinese classical music (like Peking/Beijing Opera, which is a challenge to western ears)? Or are you looking for western music with an oriental twist, like the stuff written by Tan Dun or Toru Takemitsu? If the latter, those are two composers to start with, and you may as well go for the soundtrack to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (which is by Tan Dun).

Otherwise ... well, there's some stuff by Jean Michel Jarre from The Concerts in China that's pretty excellent crossover.

 

[zumaro]

Dengue Fever maybe - Kampuchean pop/LA rock hybrid.

 

[FalconP]

The best label of traditional Chinese music/ Chinese-style fusion music is Hugo Records, based in Hong Kong. They pride themselves in immaculate production and their titles are feted by local audiophiles. Not sure about their availability in your country: Hugo was once carried by Harmonia Mundi, but I just checked the HM site and couldn't find the label there.

Dragon Music specialises in historic recordings of traditional Chinese music. All their releases comes with thick, substantial notes. Unfortunately I suspect the label is now defunct.

There are lots of rock bands in China (Peking especially) who deals with mixing rock with traditional music. An example is Tang Dynasty (can't find their site, sorry). As a rule these bands are political, and I have little rapport with political music.

 

[rkb2948]

It's interesting you mention Tan Dun, as some of the stuff he does with integration of classical chinese instruments is kind of what I was looking for? Anyone else like him? Or for the sake of not making another thread, anything medieval-ish/renaissance like lying around you guys can think of. Or for that matter, I have a pair of A900's, with what type of music do they excel. (Sorry, thats like 3 totally unrelated things)

 

[bigshot]

Debussy and Ravel were influenced by the sound of the Gamelan.

See ya
Steve

 

[soundboy]

FalconP,

Any comments on Hugo Music's LPCDs?

 

[Wotan1]

Try > I Ching: The Marsh and the moon (chesky records). It's also an audiophile recording.
Amazon.com At a Glance: I Ching


' Credit David Chesky with putting out--at least occasionally--some really intriguing music. This work consists of several tracks played by three Chinese musicians with traditional instruments, and an American synthesist. The choice of material is flawless--a perfect mix of ancient songs and new compositions. The playing is great, creating moods of beauty and serenity. While there are quite a few CDs available in the worldbeat category, none that I know of does what this album does, which is to envelope the listener in a deep feeling of Chinese life. You may not be in China, but you definitely understand what it may be like, at least sensually.'

Also check out the Buddha Bar CD's; Amazon.com: Buddha Bar: Music

 

[FalconP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif FalconP, Any comments on Hugo Music's LPCDs?

Never listened to these: hard to find in markets and not cheap.

 

[Ez_ear]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sordel /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is a huge subject on which I'm not qualified to speak, but are you looking for Chinese classical music (like Peking/Beijing Opera, which is a challenge to western ears)? Or are you looking for western music with an oriental twist, like the stuff written by Tan Dun or Toru Takemitsu? If the latter, those are two composers to start with, and you may as well go for the soundtrack to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (which is by Tan Dun). Otherwise ... well, there's some stuff by Jean Michel Jarre from The Concerts in China that's pretty excellent crossover.

Try searching at YesAsia.com: Free Shipping on Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) DVDs, CDs, TV Drama, Karaoke, Anime, Manga, Games, Books, Posters, Gifts, Toys, and more! for Chinese, Korean, Japanese labels/music/movies etc.

I bought a few original sound track CDs from them, including Crouching Tiger, House of Flying Daggers, The Banquet. My interest in these CDs are for orchestral music with some traditional Chinese instruments +/- Chinese vocals (even though I do not understand a single word of Chinese, so what, I don't know Italian either but love Italian arias anyway).

Enjoy

 

[saint.panda]

If you don't mind Japanese instead of Chinese influence, you could try film/game composers such as Nobuo Uematsu or Ryuichi Sakamoto. Usually light in style but still very enjoyable.

I also have a collection called 'J-Pop meets Classics' in case you could like such a combination. Outrageously expensive however.

And as already mentioned, Tan Dun is probably as good a place to start as any.

 

[FalconP]

If you're more into classical, you may want to check out the works of Qigang Chen. He is another composer who incorporate traditional Chinese musical styles (in particular Peking Opera) into Western Classical music, but in a way that is more subtle and introspective than Tan Dun. Chen is one of the last proteges of Olivier Messiaen, and like the old master, Chen's work is full of evanescent color. Virgin Classics has published at least two of his collections: Iris Devoilee (a song cycle for Western soprano and Peking Opera high female voice) and Extase

 

[DNA Doc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkb2948 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Any recommendations for something like classical chinese music, or rock with oriental slants? Really anything in that direction?

If you're willing to go to Japanese classical koto music (not a big stretch, really; the koto was introduced to Japan from China anyway, during the Nara Period), you should definitely check out Michio Miyagi, an undisputed master of koto music. He was an excellent teacher, performer and composer, and was critical for the development of the instrument. Well worth seeking out. You can find a little info here:

‹{铹—Y‚Ì¢ŠE@Michio Miyagi's WorldyLife and WorkszFKotoESyakuhachiAJapanese Traditional MusicAHaru no Umi

He's probably best known for the koto and shakuhatchi duet "Haru no Umi" (Spring Sea), which very beautifully blends Eastern and Western styles in a way that manages to sound not contrived and is especially well done.

You can find a more modern orchestral version here to get a sense for what this is like:

YouTube - Shoji plays Haru No Umi by Miyagi

but nothing beats it played by just a single koto and shakuhachi.

Much of MM's other work is excellent also, and definitely worth seeking out.

Enjoy!

 

[tru blu]

Try this: Gary Lucas is a guitarist-composer who's played with all kinds of folks, including Captain Beefheart and the late Jeff Buckley. He had a pretty big role in Buckley's album Grace.

 

[DLeeWebb]

I really liked the soundtrack to "Memoirs Of A Geisha" (John Williams/Yo-Yo Ma/Itzhak Perlman)