Erhu Podcast

Oh Canada - Rock Erhu Version

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:34:05 -0400

Courtesy of WOW TV Toronto, this erhu is made by Mr. Dean Turta
This video was recorded at the opening ceremony of the WOW TV, the erhu has a pick up and the signal was routed to my Roland Mobile Cube, the setting on it was distortion.
We did not know until the last minute before went on live on TV that everyone were supposed to sing along with us, it was a total surprise to my band and the audience!
My friend Dean Turta has made another cool looking electric erhu here, both erhus are on sale.

Capriccio for Erhu

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 10:05:17 -0400

I have composed this piece in 2002, it was selected for the Dragon Cup international erhu competition as “compulsory work” for the final round of the competition in China.
The piece was written for erhu and symphony orchestra, I have recorded the work with the Russian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and the recording is published on my album “Erhu Capriccio”.
This is a live video recording of my 2005 Japan tour, I love working with this wonderful Japanese pianist Ms. 西本黎江.

listen to the Pines 听松

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 09:17:59 -0400

Can’t remember which concert this was.
This is an erhu solo piece composed by Mr. Huan Yan Jun (Arbin) in the early 1940th during the second world war. He performed this piece to charge the spirit of the Chinese people who ware facing the brutal Japanese invasion of China.

My Brother is Back Erhu Concert in Toyoake (4)

Sun, 3 Aug 2008 18:54:28 -0400

I absolutely love this piece, the style of the melodies is based on “WanWanQiang” from North West China. Unfortunately the video recording started from B part of the ABA form, the first part A was missing. This B part is a romantic dialog between the two lovers, the return of the A part is a lively, festive celebration.

Ave Maria Erhu Concert in Toyoake (3)

Fri, 30 May 2008 17:56:27 -0400

I remember it was very emotional for me to play this Bach / Gounod version of Ave Maria on that concert, erhu is very suitable for this piece.

The Moon Mirrored on Spring Er Quan Erhu Concert in Toyoake (2)

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 18:16:40 -0400

This is one of the most famous erhu pieces, composed by Arbin (HUA Yan Jun) in 1930th. Arbin was a wonderful instrumentalist who specialized in erhu and pipa, he was a street performer and had incredible improvisation skill.
When Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa heard this piece played, he broke into tears, later through him, the piece earned a much wider audience internationally.

Erhu concert in Toyoake (1)

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 16:33:04 -0400

In February 1996, I toured Japan and gave four concerts in different cities, the concert in Toyoake was taped. It’s been 12 years, watching the video brings me tons of wonderful memories.
I’ll post a series of videos in the nest few blogs, hope you enjoy them.

Erhu Version of Zigeunerweisen

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:19:36 -0500

I was practicing this piece, Zigerunerweisen, before some concerts with a symphony orchestra, I thought it would be fun to video tape it and post it on my site.
Zigerunerweisen is a violin virtuosic piece composed by Pablo Sarasate, I really loved it so I tried to play it on the erhu. The original purpose was to learn some violinistic techniques and musical language to enhance my erhu playing pleasure.
二胡演奏家高韶青练习萨拉萨蒂的“流浪者之歌”，又称“吉普塞”之歌。高韶青改编此曲的本意是丰富二胡音乐表现力及演奏技巧。

Erhu trio - Horse Racing

Mon, 3 Sep 2007 19:54:00 -0400

We’ve recorded this video during my ensemble’s dress rehearsal in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada (July, 2007). This is one of the most famous erhu classics called Horse Racing, it is composed by Huang Hai Huai, the style of music is based on Mongolian music.
Thanks to Bill Bridges on the guitar and Lew Mele on the bass, you’ve probably never heard an arrangement like this one before.
二胡演奏家高韶青和他的乐队彩排赛马。

Erhu Queen of the Night with Lara

Tue, 3 Jul 2007 05:44:45 -0400

Here we go, this was recorded during our dress rehearsal in Singapore, Lara St. John played the violin.
It’s such a cool duet arrangement of Mozart’s “Queen of the Night” from “The Magic Flute”, originally it was for violins, flutes or other instruments. Enjoy!

Erhu Version of Queen of the Night

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:23:46 -0400

Just for fun, I’ve recorded this video during my practice in a room in the Fullerton Hotel of Singapore....it was my first performance trip to this fascinating country.
It was my dear friend Lara St. John’s idea to play this famous work of Mozart on the erhu, it’s fun!
My understanding is that this duet arrangement (sorry, this video has only the melody part) was written by an anonymous composer in Mozart’s time (may be himself?). In those days, the only way to promote one’s compositions was to write simple arrangements of them, then the sheet music can be published and distributed to average households where people can try to play on their own instruments.
Make sure you check out Lara’s website, she is one of the finest violinists today, and she is a Canadian!

Erhu Lesson - Hua Zi Hill

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 21:22:04 -0400

Finally I’ve got some time to make another erhu lesson video.
Hua Zi Hill one of my compositions inspired by a poem of Wang Wei of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). I have composed 20 similar pieces based on his poem cycle “Wang Chuan Ji”, these pieces are recorded on a CD called “The Villa”.
Now, these tracks can also be downloaded here. However, with a physical CD, the original poem and the English translations are printed on the insert, there are also brief inspirational notes written by my sister Gao Qian Yi, a Doctorate of ancient Chinese literatures.

Erhu Version of Carmen Fantasy

Fri, 3 Nov 2006 08:58:03 -0500

Just found an old video of the erhu version of Carmen Fantasy, Part I, the Introduction: Allegro moderato. Hope you enjoy it.

Erhu Lesson - Lady Meng Jiang

Fri, 6 Oct 2006 13:21:49 -0400

This is one of the most famous Chinese folk tunes, it is perfect for the erhu.
I’ve prepared this lesson for erhu players, however, if you play a different instrument, you’ll find this video is very helpful for you to learn the authentic Chinese folk style and try it on your own instruments.
On top of the video lesson, I have included the sheet music and a chord chart for instrumental accompaniment, I’ve even included a background audio file for Karaoke ;-), I hope you enjoy it.

Erhu QQQianjin

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 11:57:27 -0400

Upon may requests, I have recorded this video while I was performing for Murray Schafer’s The Palace of the Cinnabar Phoenix in Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve, Ontario, Canada.
This video shows how the erhu QQQianjin work, I have recorded a Chinese version first and added English voice over later. The recording of voice over was more challenging than erhu playing for me for sure ;-),

中文二胡QQ千斤录象介绍，请点击此处

Trio Performance of Mulan Park

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 07:48:16 -0400

This video was recorded during 2003 George Gao Trio Canadian tour, the piece is one of my compositions called “Mulan Park”, which is inspired by a poem written by Wang Wei (701-761AD), one of the most influential poets of the Tang dynasty. I have composed 20 similar pieces based on his poem cycle “Wang Chuan Ji”, these pieces are recorded and published on one of my CDs called “The Villa”, now the CD is available as a download in our download store.
The instrumentation of this version is erhu (George Gao), vocal (Jenny Zhang) and yangqin (Zhang Lin).

Purple Bamboo Tune

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 02:49:54 -0400

This video was recorded a few years ago in my basement, these were the core members of George Gao Ensemble that time.
Purple Bamboo Tune is a well know folk tune which is very popular in and around Shanghai area, it was almost a signature tune of Shanghai. I remember many years ago, when a train arrives Shanghai, this was the tune that plays throughout the speakers in the cars, it was a great feeling of home coming for me. Nowadays, the tune is replaced by Kenny G.......
I’ve written a song called “Shanghai, Shanghai” later, it is on the Canadian release of “Heaven On Earth”, the intro of the song is derived from “Purple Bamboo Tune”....

Erhu Version of Carmen Fantasy

Thu, 6 Jul 2006 14:30:55 -0400

This is a very cute MV directed by Maurizio Chen, a Chinese-Canadian film director. The film was sponsored by Bravo! TV Canada.
George Gao is the first erhu virtuoso who has transcribed “Carmen Fantasy”, one the most popular violin virtuosic masterpiece composed by Sarasate based on themes of Bizet’s opera “Carmen”. This erhu transcription is hailed as a mile stone for erhu music and erhu technique, it is challenging every erhu players today.
This MV uses an excerpt part called Moderato. The full version of George Gao’s erhu “Carmen Fantasy” can be found on a CD called “Carmen Fantasy” on our web store.

Erhu Lesson Demo - Ornaments

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:30:52 -0400

Learning erhu ornaments including different kinds of portamentos, trills and grace notes. This instruction video is in English

Erhu Lesson Demo - Left Hand Shifting

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:30:06 -0400

How to shift quickly and precisely, this instruction video is in English