East meets West in innovative ensemble at Linfield

String ensemble presents free concert Saturday night

The Forest Grove News-Times, Nov 5, 2009

Courtesy photo / New-Times

Red Chamber will perform at Linfield College Saturday.

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Virtuoso string ensemble Red Chamber and world music artist Randy Raine-Reusch will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Richard and Lucille Ice Auditorium on the Linfield College campus in McMinnville. “Red Chamber: Secrets of the Chinese Court, Passions of the West” is free and the public is invited.

The ensemble stretches the boundaries of traditional Asian music with a spicy fusion that spans centuries, world cultures and musical genres. Its repertoire is inspired by ancient Chinese court music and blended with Balkan, gypsy, jazz, American old-time and bluegrass traditions, along with adventurous free-form music.

Raine-Reusch, a World music composer and performer, will appear as guest artist. His music, performed around the world, has been influenced by a variety of indigenous cultures and is heavily influenced by Taoism and Zen. CBC Radio called Raine-Reusch the “Noah of music instruments.”

The Red Chamber ensemble is led by Mei Han. Han grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution, listening to songs that praised Chairman Mao, the Communist Party and the working class. As a child, she had no exposure to Western music and even traditional Chinese music was banned and its scores burned.

The Tiananmen Square incident changed Han’s outlook. She turned, she said, “from a young person into an adult” and experienced her first feelings of restlessness and disillusionment with her narrow training. After settling in Canada she embarked on an eager – and emotional – exploration of music from around the world. “When you breathe new air, new things come out,” she said.

For information, call the college at 503-883-2275.