In C(hina)

The big question, even only a week ago, was how would it go with the Chinese performers for In C. We didn't have a rehearsal schedule, we weren't confident that we would even have the players. Our e-mails requesting confirmation of their participation were replied to with "Everything's OK", which didn't inspire much confidence. In the end, these concerns were just wasted energy. The Chinese students were simply awesome, joining us for a life affecting performance of Mr. Riley's masterpiece this afternoon.

Many images linger from the performance:

• We asked two of the players to improvise on C major at the beginning of the piece as an introduction, with the famous E naturals emerging from this dreamy atmosphere


• The piece requires the patience to let things happen at their own pace. For the first time, the group was able to trust the collective direction the piece was taking, building to great climaxes, then catching our breath by letting the music thin out.


• My stand partner was the gorgeous Wei Wei, a brilliant pipa player who also served as translator to the others. We got into some totally cool jamming on the rhythmic parts near the end, playing around with the shifting downbeats, just having a great time with it.


• The feeling of community, of direct spiritual connection, working together to create something beautiful. These are the moments when words like connection and transcendence move beyond their definitions, weak descriptors for an experience that is beyond the capacity for words to express.


• There weren't too many dry eyes in the house, starting with my own....Now THAT'S what I call a trade mission.....


• Huge thanks to Mark Goodenberger for leading the rehearsals, and to Luanne Katz for wrists of steel, as she played the repeated Cs for the entire performance.

The rest of the program went very well....kudos to Mark Goodenberger for his vivid reading of Tomas Svoboda's new xylophone work. And sincere kudos to my Schiff colleagues (Susan, Hamilton, Todd, Georgeanne), who took on David's piece with great professionalism and fearlessness. David doesn't make it easy for us with Scenes, but I thought we gave it great reading.

Later that same evening, we attended the closing concert for the festival, performed by the Beijing Ballet orchestra. The program was titled "Six party music", and included a work by each of the companies that form the six party talks. The American slot was covered by Chairman Dances from Nixon in China (How many can say they've heard that piece in China?.) I asked Professor Ye if he'd had difficulty researching North Korean classical music. His just shrugged his shoulders and said that it was pretty simple, he just went through the embassy......it was a moment of clarity for me that I wasn't in the US anymore.

Whew....a full day, indeed. Tomorrow, the Forbidden City.....