Controversial Chinese concerto topic for COLA lecture

Between 1966 and 1976, pianos were silenced throughout China.

Thousands were smashed and burned as a symbol of Western culture during the throes of China's Cultural Revolution. Classical music compositions featuring the piano were outlawed--except for the Yellow River Concerto with its subtle ties to revolutionary thought.

Learn the story about how this concerto escaped the revolution to become a treasured masterpiece of China's cultural history when Jackson Leung, associate professor of music, presents "Yellow River Piano Concerto: Politics and Piano Music in China during the Cultural Revolution," on Tuesday, Oct. 11, in the Millett Hall Atrium at 6 p.m. As part of the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) faculty lecture series, the presentation will be free and open to the public.

"This concerto was the only large-scale piano composition allowed to be performed in China during the 1966-76 revolution period," said Leung. "It incorporates some elements of revolutionary ideas and is based on the choral piece The Yellow River Cantata from an earlier period."

Leung will discuss the background leading up to the work and present taped excerpts of the music. "It seems paradoxical that a concerto for a western musical instrument with accompaniment by a traditional symphony orchestra was written during these violent and chaotic times when all European classical music was banned in China," Leung explained. "For several years in this turbulent time the Yellow River Concerto was the staple of Chinese orchestral music."

The composer/arranger of the concerto, Yin Chengzong, visited Leung at Wright State three years ago, when Leung directed the WSU Chamber Orchestra in a performance of the work at a Chinese New Year concert in Cincinnati.

For more details on the COLA event, phone 775-2225.