Guzheng Plays Popular European-American Melodies
Sketch 2009-10
Inspired by the zheng as a cross-cultural artistic expression and musical instrument, Fiona Sze-Lorrain plays and adapts popular European and American melodies as part of her performance repertoire. Conceptualised in the summer of 2007, this is a new performance-improvisation and composition collaboration as part of the Bridging Cultures Project.
“Guzheng Plays Popular European-American Melodies” is a fascinating musical journey that explores a delightful collection of popular European music (both traditional and contemporary) on the pentatonic guzheng. Enchanting and mystical, the unique harmony combination offers a new musical landscape on the zheng.
Selected Adaptations:
French Chansons
Le temps des cerises (Jean-Baptiste Clément/Antoine Renard)
La vie en rose (Edith Piaf/Louigy)
Sous le ciel de Paris (Edith Piaf/Louigy)
Autumn Leaves (Georges Gershwin)
Ave Maria (Lourdes Hymn)
Hymns & Celtic Melodies
Amazing Grace (John Newton)
Suo Gân (Traditional Welsh Lullaby)
American Folk Songs
Oh ! Susanna (Stephen Foster)
Swanee River (Stephen Foster)
Classical Music
Arioso (J.S. Bach)
Largo from the “New World” Symphony (Antonin Dvoràk)
Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber)
Others
Für Alina (Arvo Pärt)
Hebrew Heaven (adapted from the film, Schindler's List)