Gong Linna & Bang on a Can All-Stars - Cloud River Mountain (2017)

A spectacular journey into Chinese myths and ancient poetry, Cloud River Mountain combines the stories of the past with the sounds of the future. Chinese vocal star Gong Linna joins New York's electric Bang on a Can All Stars in a brilliantly staged concert of new work co-composed by Lao Luo, and Bang on a Can co-artistic directors Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe. Weaving together ancient Chinese storytelling and Western songwriting, Cloud River Mountain honors the “sound worlds” of both China and the West, fusing texts sung in both Mandarin and English with sophisticated chamber music, rock, folk, and jazz. Cloud River Mountain is inspired by the tales of gods spirits and the world of the Shamans from the Chu Ci Anthology (also known as Songs of the South) by the famous Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Cloud River Mountain offers an inspiring, poignant, and ultimately contemporary answer to the question of what a new and authentic collaboration of Chinese and American art music may provide.

For their brand new 21st Century collaboration, Lao, Gordon, Lang, and Wolfe chose first to reach back into ancient Chinese mythology, to tales of gods and spirits and the world of the Shamans from the Chu Ci Anthology (also known as Songs of the South) by the famous Chinese poet Qu Yuan. The combination of styles merge seamlessly in the infectiously melodic and groove-oriented title track “Lord in the Clouds” to the meditative “Girl with Mountain” and the rock-solid back-beat of “Into the Clouds”. In “He Bo”, Gong Linna demonstrates an unparalleled vocal command, while “River” aims to defy the entire ensemble with its relentless poly-rhythms and Gong Linna meets the added challenge of singing the piece in English. Hinting at the work’s universal appeal, the New York Times raved over “the extraordinary Chinese singer Gong Linna” in a review of the recent concert premiere, saying “Whether belting, keening or murmuring, insinuating or girlish, Ms. Gong is a star.”

Bang on a Can co-founder and composer Michael Gordon became mesmerized by Gong Linna during visits to China, originally having seen her on Chinese television and then having subsequently met her and her partner, composer Lao Luo. An original commissioning project consisting of 30 minutes of songs was performed on the Bang on a Can Marathon at the Winter Garden in New York in June, 2015. The disparate compositional styles of Lao Luo, Michael Gordon, Julia Wolfe and David Lang as interpreted by Gong Linna and the Bang on a Can All-Stars provided a remarkable musical moment for the audience. Based on this experience, Bang on a Can is developing Cloud River Mountain, an evening-length work featuring Gong Linna, her orchestra, and the Bang on a Can All-Stars.

TRACKLIST
1 Yun Zhong Jun 04:49
2 Into the Clouds 06:13
3 River 04:44
4 He Bo05:24
5 Girl with Mountain 03:09
6 Shan Gui 04:53
7 Tan Te 03:23