CONWAY, Ark. (September 7, 2016) – The Harold Thompson Residency
will host events and performances by guest artists Dr. Mei Han and Randy
Raine-Reusch September 24 – 26.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, at 10
a.m. in Staples Auditorium, the Hendrix College Chamber Orchestra will be
joined by Han and Raine-Reusch for two pieces: Sands of Time, the
premiere of Randy Raine-Reusch's new Graphic Notation work commissioned for the
Hendrix College Chamber Orchestra and the premiere of Hendrix music professor
Dr. Karen Griebling's Concertino Grosso for Thai Khaen, Chinese Zheng,
Ethiopian Sistrum and string orchestra.
Also on the program is Parade from Andrew Rudin's September
Trilogy. Rudin is professor emeritus of composition from the Juilliard
School and the Philadelphia Academy of the Arts.
On Sunday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m., with the Conway
Composers Guild, the Hendrix College Chamber Orchestra reprises its
performances of Sands of Time and Concertino Grosso. Also on the
concert will be Raindrops for marimba solo by Hendrix student, Sydney
Hickok ’17. The Conway Composers Guild ArtsFest Concert
will be held at First United Methodist Church in Conway.
There will also be a Composer Workshop on Graphic Notation Scores
with Randy Raine-Reusch on Sunday,
Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m., in Trieschmann Fine Arts Building, Classroom 1.
On Monday, Sept. 26,
at 2 p.m., Dr. Han will give a lecture on music from Imperial China, in
Trieschmann Fine Arts Building, Classroom 3.
Han and Raine-Reusch will perform "Endangered Musics of the
World" at 7:30 p.m., in Reves Recital Hall.
For more information, contact Dr.
Karen Griebling at
501-450-1249 or griebling@hendrix.edu.
About Mei
Han and Randy Raine-Reusch
Dr. Mei
Han and Randy Raine-Reusch have created a radical new repertoire, combining
five thousand years of Chinese musical traditions with those of New Music,
World Music, and Jazz. These rich innovations result from the collision of two
cultures: Chinese virtuoso Mei Han's deep roots in traditional music and the
modern innovations of Canadian multi-instrumentalist Randy RaineReusch.
Han is a
rare blend of virtuoso performer and scholar, whose career spans five
continents. Her performances range from traditional Chinese to orchestra and chamber
works to jazz and free improv. Her recordings with prominent international
artists are heard around the world.
Raine-Reusch
is a composer, international concert-artist, and multi-instrumentalist with a
collection of over seven hundred world instruments. Specializing in New Music
for world instruments, he has worked with some of the world’s most prominent
artists in numerous genres, including: Pauline Oliveros, Aerosmith, Yes, The
Cranberries, Robert Dick, Barry Guy, and Sainkho Namtchylak.
Performing
powerfully evocative landmark compositions for the Chinese zheng, a 21 string
long zither, Mei and Randy’s performances often feature a host of other rare
and unique instruments to the contemporary stage. These include the soulfully
philosophical Japanese ichigenkin (1 string zither), the deeply esoteric
Japanese sho (bamboo mouth organ), the triumphant Thai Khaen (bamboo mouth
organ), the plaintive Chinese bawu (free reed pipe), the hauntingly beautiful
hulusi (free reed pipe) and the radiant dizi (transverse flute).
Han Mei
and Randy Raine-Reusch are transporting the zheng and other Asian traditional
instruments well beyond the borders of Asia, from culturally specific
instruments to serious instruments for the international stage. Recent performances
include: Hanoi – Vietnam, Tanz and Folkfest Rudolstadt - Germany, Womadelaide -
Australia, National Ethnology Museum - Osaka, the Vancouver International Jazz
Festival - Canada, the Rainforest World Music Festival - Malaysia, WOMAD -
Singapore, CHIME Conference on Asian Music - Prague, and the Awesome Africa
Festival - Durban.
Mei and
Randy have lectured at prominent universities and music conservatories
worldwide, and have been Artists-in-Residence at University of Michigan Ann
Arbor and others. With concerts ranging from traditional folk songs to modern
sonic soundscapes, Han's sensual melodic style compliments and contrasts with
the vigorous improvisations of Raine-Reusch. Their dynamic performances
continuously invigorate, fascinate and amaze. Mei and Randy’s CD “Distant
Wind”, reached #1 on the Canadian College World Music charts, was nominated for
a Juno - “Best World”, and for the West Coast Music Awards - “Best Global”,
“Best Instrumental”. The CD is available on Za Discs, or through www.ASZA.com.
About
Hendrix College
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college in Conway,
Arkansas. Founded in 1876 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church since
1884, Hendrix is featured in Colleges
That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges and is
nationally recognized in numerous college guides, lists, and rankings for
academic quality, community, innovation, and value. For more information, visit
www.hendrix.edu.