Far Eastern promises of music magic

Jul 3 2008 By Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

THERE will be an international twist to the European Capital of Culture this weekend, as East meets North West for a first night set to be a little unlike anything heard before.

Jah Wobble’s Chinese Dub, commissioned by the Culture Company, premieres on Saturday night at the Carling Academy, and will fuse the innovative musician’s experimental electronics with traditional Eastern melodies.

For the spectacle, there will be dancers from China, including experts in the impressive art of mask changing, and for that Liverpool touch there will be the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra.

And, while it may seem like a random collaboration – Wobble is known for his association with the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd, as well as his extensive solo career – it turns out to be more relevant to the city than it first appears.

The orchestra, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and as such is the oldest and largest of its kind in Europe, was set up by Kui Hsiung LiCORR, who moved to Liverpool in 1980, leaving behind his work as a composer and conductor with the Canton Symphony Orchestra.

His daughter, Zi Lan LiaoCORR, a virtuoso musician in her own right, is art development officer at the centre and is married to Jah Wobble.

He came up with the idea for the Chinese Dub after hearing their children practice the traditional tunes.

Ms Liao said: "The orchestra was set up with the aim of helping the young Chinese generation, both British-born and those born in China, to have some learning and background about their heritage and culture and where they came from.

"It’s a chance for the children to improve their skills and show that if you play well in music, you can really go somewhere – it’s not just a hobby.

"This collaboration gives them the idea that a classical piece of traditional Chinese music can be pop. It gives new ideas as to how music can be interpreted in so many different ways.

"The opportunity to be involved in Capital of Culture will really help raise the profile of the orchestra as well, because a lot of people don’t know we exist in Liverpool."

Its Henry Street base also serves as a community centre offering activities including Tai Chi, language lessons and legal advice to the Chinese community.

The orchestra comprises traditional Chinese instruments including the violin-like gao hu, the dai hu – which is similar to the cello and was actually invented by Mr Li to bring a lower bass element into Chinese music – plucking instruments the yung chin and yang chin, the lute-like pipa, and Chinese flute.

Some 32 children aged eight to 18 from across Merseyside now play in the orchestra, which practices once a week.

It has already recorded two songs as part of the Chinese Dub with Wobble at Parr Street Studios and a smaller group of from the orchestra will be on stage for the start of the concert on Saturday night (July 5) to illustrate the traditional sound.

Ms Liao added: "It’s our job to promote Chinese culture and I hope with this project we can widen the audience and people who like dub music and who perhaps have never listened to Chinese music will hear it’s not what they thought. I think ‘08 is all about crossover, and bringing people together.

"It is an exciting year for the youth orchestra and our aim through this project is that we hope we can attract non-Chinese people to come us, everybody is welcome to come to practice."

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk