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Whew....it's already been a week since our first performance, almost enough time to process the extraordinary events of last week. A few highlights:
Sunday, Portland Art Museum - Professor Ye Xiaogang joined Professor Eric Priest of the U of O Law School in a discussion of the business of music in China. We learned that the concept of intellectual property rights is still very new there, not enforced, a token gesture in response to pressure from the WTO. Composers such as Xiaogang are paid their fees up front, no royalties or residuals. Once the work is completed, the capacity to be compensated for its future use is practically nonexistent. The only music product that is making major money is.......cellphone ringtones, since that is completely controlled by the phone company, and can't be downloaded for free from the internet.
Monday, Portland State Univ. - Our first rehearsal with a composer is always a bit tense. We've done everything we can to follow what's on the printed page, hopeful that we're at least close, and that the composer will be nice....much relief as Xiaogang was extremely pleased with what he heard! How great it is to work with the composer, to start to hear how the music works beyond the page, how it achieves lift-off.
Tuesday, Hotel Modera - Zheng virtuoso Haiqiong Deng arrived the previous evening from Boston, where she's been touring with a Chinese ensemble. She will be meeting both Xiaogang Ye and GeorgeAnne Ries (flutist) for the first time, spending the day rehearsing and coaching with them at their hotel. Haiqiong and GeorgeAnne have a difficult task; preparing the very difficult duo, San Die, in two days. Haiqiong has the added challenge of playing Springs in the Forest, an incredibly difficult piece, for Xiaogang for the first time. All goes well.....
Wednesday, Mulvanny G2 Architects - Lynn Parsons, 3A board member extraordinaire, has arranged a salon event at MG2. When I arrive, Xiaogang is transfixed by the slides of MG2's China projects. He comments how surprising it is for even he, a resident of Beijing, to see how quickly things are progressing in China. GeorgeAnne and Haiqiong dazzle the audience with their first performance of Xiaogang's duo.
Thursday, Portland Art Museum - The stage has been constructed the day before, the lighting, back stage areas are all set, the dress rehearsal has gone very well. Now if we could just keep the dishwashers in the next room quiet....The concert that evening is magical. Xiaogang seems very pleased with how it went. Haiqiong is absolutely incredible, and the rest of the Third Anglers play like angels.
Friday, Chinese Gardens/Portland Art Museum/Donna Drummond's residence - 3A director Laura Grimes, myself, Xiaogang, and Haiqiong spend the morning at Portland's Chinese Gardens by Lin Bunza (another brilliant 3A supporter). Friday's performance goes very well. At the post-concert q&a, Xiaogang is asked about his experience during the Cultural Revolution. He described his musician father's attempted suicide, how he wasn't allowed to play the piano for seven years while forced to work in a paper factory, and how no one in China talks about the Cultural Revolution: "Everyone suffered....there's nothing left to say about it."Afterwards, we gather at another brilliant board members residence for a party. Thank you Donna!
Saturday - Our honored guests depart. I get the chance to speak for a final time with Xiaogang, thanking him for spending the week with us, and chatting about how nice Beijing is in May.....stay tuned!
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