The Friends of Music of Stamford, New York, will host the New Asia Chamber Music Society for a one-of-a-kind concert that blends Eastern and Western traditions into a fresh and vibrant chamber music experience.
At the helm is violist and erhu player Andy Lin, who also serves as the group’s artistic director. Lin, a multi-instrumentalist, describes the ensemble’s mission as one of cultural dialogue.
“I grew up with violin, viola, and piano—very Western instruments,” Lin says, “but I also played the erhu from the age of eight. The erhu and the viola actually share a similar timbre. So when we program concerts, we look for opportunities to bridge the two musical worlds.”
The program exemplifies that approach. It opens with “Sekai no Hazama” (Between the Worlds) by Michael Ippolito, written for shamisen and string quartet. The shamisen, a traditional Japanese plucked instrument, will be played—and sung to—by Yoko Kimura.
Also on the program is Stephanie Chow’s Dragon, a recent work for erhu and string trio, followed by the Wildlife Suite, which combines traditional Chinese pieces including Horses Galloping on the Battlefield. “It’s amazing what you can do with just two strings,” Lin notes. “The erhu can mimic galloping horses, birds, and all kinds of animal sounds.”
The concert concludes with Genji by Darren Eric Hagen, featuring both koto and string quartet in a dramatic finale. In total, five musicians will perform on seven different instruments—including voice.
Many of the ensemble’s artists, Lin explains, have known each other since youth. “One of our musicians, Keiko Tokunaga, and I met at a summer festival when we were thirteen. We’ve stayed friends and collaborators ever since.”
The concert takes place Sunday, August 17, at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 96 Main Street, Stamford, New York.
Tickets and information are available at friendsmusic.org.