Liu Qichao

Liu Qichao (simplified Chinese: 刘起超; traditional Chinese: 劉起超; pinyin: Liú Qǐchāo; born in Shandong) is a Chinese-born American musician. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He now lives in Los Angeles.[1]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.

Instruments

Liu performs on an array of traditional Chinese instruments, including wind instruments: dizi,[2] suona, sheng, bawu, xun, and xiao; stringed instruments: erhu, guzheng, and sanxian; and percussion: Chinese drums, cymbals, gongs, and woodblocks.[3]

Performances

In addition to his traditional performances, he has also worked in cross-cultural projects, collaborating with the Kronos Quartet, Jon Jang and the Pan Asian Arkestra, and the African Chinese Sextet featuring flutist James Newton. Due to his special interest in jazz, he has become associated with the Asian American jazz movement. Liu also leads his own ensemble, Chi Music.

Works

In the 1970s, a revival for the zheng instrument came about in China, as asked for by the government. Qichao wrote a zheng composition during the period called Caoyuan Yingxiong Xiao Jiemei ("The Heroic Sisters from the Grassland").[4]

Legacy

A book was written by Weihua Zhang titled Music making as an expression of a changing Asian American identity: the music of Liu Qichao and Lee Pui Ming that prominently featured Qichao and his music.[5][6]

Personal life

His wife was the late Zhang Yan (张燕, 1945–1996), a guzheng player.

References
  1. MacMillan, Kyle, "Central City's "Li Bai" is poetry in motion", Denver Post, July 9, 2007
  2. "Performing Artists", Central City Opera, July 6, 2007
  3. "Not only Chinese instruments but also Chinese master musicians Zhang Yan (on zheng) and Liu Qichao (on suona, erhu, and sheng) are featured. Jang believes that an audience needs someone who can not only speak their musical language but ..." Chinese America: history and perspectives 1992 by the Chinese Historical Society of America, 1992
  4. "Historical and Contemporary Development of the Chinese Zheng", The Music Research Institute of Chinese Arts Academy, 1995
  5. "Intercultural music", Open Library, MRI Press, 2003
  6. ACMR reports: journal of the Association for Chinese Music Research, Volumes 11-13, Music Dept. and Asian Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh, 1998, Pg. 133
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