San Francisco Symphony - Enter the Pipa

EPISODE I: ENTER THE PIPA

The sounds, stories, and traditions of San Francisco’s Chinese community speak not only to the Chinese or Asian immigrant experience, but the American experience. Engaging artist conversations and performances by award-winning pipa virtuoso Shenshen Zhang and San Francisco Symphony musicians bring this singular journey to life. Hosted/curated by Michael Morgan.

Heard in This Episode

Bright Sheng (b. 1955, Shanghai): Seasons (Qinghai) and The Little Cabbage (Hebei) from Seven Tunes Heard in China
(new arrangement by Bright Sheng for pipa, violin, viola, and cello)

PODCAST

The stories, sounds, and traditions of San Francisco’s Chinese community speak not only to the Chinese or Asian immigrant experience, but the American experience. Michael Morgan, and San Francisco Symphony Assistant Principal Cello Amos Yang, Associate Principal Viola Yun Jie Liu, and Assistant Principal Second Violin Jessie Fellows share their unique connections to Chinese culture and reflect on what music can offer in times like these.

GUEST ARTISTS

Shenshen Zhang, Pipa

A native of China, Shenshen Zhang has made her home in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2006. In addition to performing the traditional Chinese pipa repertory, she has also appeared with ensembles including Houston Grand Opera, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Symphony Silicon Valley. Shenshen teaches classical Chinese music at her pipa studio in the Silicon Valley.

Strauss Shi, Violin/Erhu(Explore & Create)

Born in China and raised in San Francisco, Strauss Shi began studying violin and erhu as a young boy. He received degrees in violin from the Juilliard School and USC Thornton School of Music and is an alumnus of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.

CURRENTS: EXPLORE & CREATE

In collaboration with Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, this interactive musical adventure and companion series features conversations and activities designed to guide curious users through the characteristics that shape musical styles explored in CURRENTS.

Featured in this episode: Strauss Shi

GET CREATIVE:
As a result of all the changes in the world, we are hearing things differently.

What has changed in your sound world over the past couple of months?

We want you to get creative! Post your response to this question in a sound recording, video, poem, or other on Instagram or Twitter using #SFSCurrents.
We’ll be displaying them here.