Review  – American Record Guide – November/December 2008        by R. Moore

If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, here is a novelty. And it’s more than just a novelty; it’s an effort to bridge the musical expressions of east and west. The title “Chinese Lieder” refers to some of the most beloved Chinese poetry of the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279 AD) and some of the most popular Chinese folk tunes arranged in styles familiar to western ears. We are not told who arranged these songs or when, but they display a curious range of styles, one sounding like a Neapolitan song, another vaguely like Puccini, and still others sounding like Chabrier, Stephen Foster, and even Gershwin with shades of Asian tonality. By western musical standards these sweet and gentle songs may sound simplistic, but they are pleasant and occasionally rather inventive.     Continue reading →