Building New Musical Bridges
Navona, 2022
8/10
Listen to Building New Musical Bridges
The duo of Bin Hu (guitar) and Jing Xia (guzheng), as Chinoiserie the pair blend their instruments into a meshing of Eastern and Western cultures with a very present European classical influence.
“Mulan” starts the listen with strings interacting with much warmth and beauty that flows with grace and awe, and “Cantigas De Santiago” follows with 5 segments that can be bare and dreamy, as well as firm and tense, as the pair weave in and out of each other with incredible precision.
Further along, “El Amor Brujo” quivers with a bit of mystery, where the interaction between the pair is nothing short of dynamic, while “Golliwogg’s Cakewalk” is quite playful with a cozy melody running under the complicated string work. “Zhong Kui’s Journey” exits the listen with strategic strumming on guitar and meticulous picking on guzheng.
A very unique listen, the two display incredible skill with their instruments, and their global nods make for an experience that’s enlightening and charming.
Travels well with: Elaine Greenfield- Ravel Compared; David Colson- Rise: Music In Times Of Uncertainty