Eastern Encounters

On May 19, NBCO will be joined by the New Jersey Taiwanese Folk Chorus in concert of music from - and inspired by- Taiwan and surrounding areas. Works will include “Two Folk Songs for String Orchestra” by Tyzen Hsiao, and the Taiwanese Folk Song Suite" by Ko Fan-Long, and a collection of folk songs by the chorus. The orchestra will also perform music from three film scores by Toru Takemitsu including the music from the film "Black Rain."

  A concert highlight will be the “Concerto for Pipa with String Orchestra.” This “crossover” work was written in 1997 by the American composer Lou Harrison and features his characteristic blending of Western compositional techniques and Asian influences. Sun Li will be our soloist on the Pipa, a traditional string instrument that is plucked like a lute. The concert concludes with a special arrangement of songs for chorus and orchestra.