After successfully presenting the inaugural Sound of Dragon Music Festival in May 2014, the society is developing its concert series to better fulfill its mandate with an on-going presence in the city. The first season in 2015 focuses on co-productions with our partners from 2014.
The 2015 season represents the society’s commitment to innovative and diversified programming. It showcases contemporary and traditional music performed by large and chamber ensembles, presenting the classic repertoire, new premieres, jazz, and free improvisation on cross-cultural instrumentations.
1) Feb 8, 2015 – “From A Dream” featuring the Orchid Ensemble at Pyatt Hall, Vancouver
The Sound of Dragon Society’s 2015 season opens with the JUNO nominated Orchid Ensemble performing contemporary compositions by Canadian composers Jin Zhang, Dorothy Chang, Farshid Samandari and Lan Tung at the Pyatt Hall. The Orchid Ensemble combines Chinese and western instruments to perform original repertoire.
2) May 16-17, 2015 – “Sound of Dragon/Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra” Open Rehearsals, Vancouver
In preparation for Sound of Dragon/VICO’s debut Ontario tour, we invite the Vancouver community to observe our musicians putting together music in different genres: 1) compositions by Jin Zhang, Mark Armanini, Farshid Samandari, Lan Tung, and John Oliver. 2) VICO’s “Sounds Global Ensemble” repertoire inspired by Taiwanese, Chinese, Persian and Jewish traditions in lively arrangements. 3) Traditional Chinese instrumental music.
The different repertoires demonstrate contrasting styles and different rehearsal approaches. Come to witness how inter-cultural music can be created in the compositions for the larger ensemble, under the leadership of Taiwanese guest conductor Chih-Sheng Chen. The next session features the small ensemble working with no conductor, and contributing ideas in improvised sections. In traditional Chinese music, the musicians intuitively apply stylistic ornamentations to interpret written materials. The open rehearsals provide the public the opportunity to ask the musicians questions in an intimate space.
3) 7:30pm June 27, 2015 – “Music Garden” featuring Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra & Rong Jun at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Classical Garden, Vancouver
After their impressive performances at the 2014 Sound of Dragon Music Festival, Taiwan’s Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra (gCO) returns to Vancouver to collaborate with Vancouver musicians in a few events. The gCO is Taiwan’s premiere Chinese music ensemble. Joining the orchestra is Vancouver erhu soloist Rong Jun performing a new work by composer Jin Zhang. This concert is collaboration with Vancouver’s Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society.
4) 1:30pm June 28, 2015 – “Improvisation: Traditions vs. Innovation”, Roundhouse, Vancouver
Co-presented with the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, this workshop will expose young musicians and the public to very unique approaches to improvisation, drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese music. Led by Lan Tung, Vancouver’s young jazz musicians and members of the Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra will meet in a workshop to explore compositions written for an improvising orchestra.
5) 7:30pm June 28, 2015 – “Taiwan Impression”, Garden Village Church (4950 Barker Crescent), Burnaby
Co-presented with the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society, this concert showcases Taiwanese folk melodies and works by Taiwanese composers.
6) 12pm July 1, 2015 – “Sound of Dragon Canada Day” featuring Proliferasian & Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra at Performance Works, Vancouver
Co-presented with the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, the concert features the collaboration between Vancouver quartet Proliferasian and Taiwan’s Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra, following their successful premiere performance at the 2014 Sound of Dragon Music Festival. Bringing together the improvisers and the classically trained musicians, combining jazz and Chinese traditional instruments, the resulting sound is unique in the world. Proliferasian and Little Giant plan to continue the collaboration and tour Canadian and Chinese jazz festivals starting 2016.
