"Deep Roots" by Melody of China

Melody of China presents a  colorful and exciting program spans various regions of China, including Sichuan, Yunnan, and Suzhou as well as Tibet and Mongolia, performed by virtuoso musicians on traditional instruments: erhu (2-string bowed fiddle); yangqin (hammered dulcimer); guzheng (table harp); pipa (lute); sheng (mouth organ); dizi (bamboo flute) and paigu (drums and percussion). The program features guest artist Rachel Xu on cello and a new work, The Enchantment of Dance by composer Phil Young.

Melody of China, a nonprofit ensemble based in San Francisco, is the premiere Chinese music ensemble in the United States. The organization was formed in 1993 by a group of enthusiastic professional musicians from some of the most prestigious music conservatories in China.Yangqin (Chinese Hammered Dulcimer) virtuoso Yangqin Zhao is Director of the Melody of China (MoC) ensemble. Serving an annual audience of more than 10,000, Melody of China performances have broken barriers in combining traditional Chinese music with contemporary works by influential composers such as Kui Dong, Gang Situ and Yuanlin Chen. Over the years, MoC has commissioned over 40 new works by 20 contemporary composers and has performed at numerous Bay Area public schools. The ensemble has a two-fold mission: to promote Chinese classical, folk and contemporary music, and to provide quality entertainment through the synergy between an ancient cultural tradition and youthful, multi-colored American culture.