THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 1996 TAG: 9605150043
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
THE MUSICIAN is 36-year-old Xu Ke, a native of Nanjing, China. The device is the erhu, a two-string, traditional Chinese instrument. Connecting the musician and the instrument is an ambition that few Chinese have entertained on their own before.
That ambition is to spread the influence of Chinese music around the world.
After creating a favorable environment for his music in Japan, Xu Ke began to test the acceptability of the U.S. audience.
In April, he gave five concerts in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La. This week, he's in Hampton Roads for two concerts at the Chandler Recital Hall of Old Dominion University.
Xu Ke regards the United States as an important market for fulfilling his ambition.
``America has a bigger impact on the world than eastern Asia,'' said Xu Ke from New Orleans during a telephone interview. ``At the peak of my performance and career, I need to purposefully work on opening the market in America.''
Xu Ke is well-known in China and Japan for his creative technique of using the erhu to perform difficult Western violin solos. To adapt the erhu to Western music, Xu Ke broadened its range and borrowed violin techniques in his playing. Because many of the pieces he plays are not composed for the erhu, Xu has to do a lot of rearranging of the scores. He is the first performer to bring the erhu into the international scene as a solo instrument.
In Japan, Xu Ke has an exclusive contract with RCA Records to produce two records a year. In Hong Kong, he has released eight compact discs. His performance schedule has been fully booked throughout the year.
``There are a lot of people worshiping me in Japan,'' Xu Ke said. ``The Japanese audience has known my work for a long time. People admire my spirit of reform. They have a deep understanding of my music.''
A 1982 graduate from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, Xu ventured in 1988 to Tokyo, where he found a more suitable environment for his interest.
Compared to the Japanese audience, Xu Ke said, the American audience in New Orleans seemed to have a lower appreciation level.
``They are very enthusiastic and crazy about it,'' Xu Ke said, ``but they don't have a good understanding of the music and the instrument. The two-string instrument sounds strange to them.''
But Xu Ke said his performance in New Orleans was a good beginning.
``There is a lot to be done in America,'' Xu said. ``We need to start educating the young about Chinese music.''
In New Orleans, Xu Ke performed for the students of Southern University in New Orleans, the University of New Orleans and Newman High School. For him, the key to persuading a foreign audience to appreciate Chinese music is to begin by playing Western music with a Chinese instrument.
``It's more acceptable for them to begin with something familiar,'' Xu said. ``Then, when they hear the instrument playing Chinese music, they would realize the true beauty of Chinese music.''
Xu will bring that music to Old Dominion University Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
The sponsor of Xu's upcoming concerts is the Alliance for Preserving History of World War II in Asia (ALPHA).
Ping Tcheng, the group's president, said proceeds from the concerts will be used to purchase books and videos on the history of World War II in Asia. ALPHA will donate the materials to area public libraries, Tcheng said.
``Xu Ke is willing to help to raise the fund,'' Tcheng said. ``He has raised funds in Japan for the same cause.''
Xu Ke was brought to the attention of ALPHA by Connie Schuler of Richmond, a member of ALPHA. Schuler met Xu in Tokyo last summer after attending one of Xu's solo concerts. That particular concert was held to raise funds for the rebuilding of a segment of Nan-jing's city wall, to commemorate both the city and the lives that were destroyed during World War II.
Schuler was deeply touched by Xu's effort to help his native city, and she was impressed by his superb performance.
``He's a genius,'' Schuler said from Richmond in a telephone interview. ``As soon as he started to play, my tears came down.''
In her mind, Schuler immediately put Xu Ke's performance and ALPHA's mission together.
With uncertainty, Schuler approached Xu with the idea of having him perform in Hampton Roads.
``He was immediately interested,'' Schuler said. ``I can't wait to let people see his talent.''
As a former employee at the American Embassy in Japan, Schuler was able to help Xu Ke obtain a visiting visa to the United States. She also helped to arrange for Xu Ke to perform earlier in New Orleans, under the sponsorship of New Orleans Chinese Association.
Dolores Kuo, a friend of Schuler and a member of the New Orleans Chinese Association, is thankful of Schuler's discovery.
``He's a great performer,'' Kuo said. ``People here are extremely enthusiastic about his perfor-mance.''
Kuo and her husband, Ding-wu, were Xu's hosts during his stay in New Orleans.
``We never met him before,'' Kuo said. ``When we invited him to do the free concerts for the schools, he was very cooperative. He volunteered to pay his travel expense from Japan to America.
``He said it's his duty to spread Chinese culture to the world. It's such a honor to have him staying with us.''
Xu Ke said he would like to do more concerts in America next year, if his schedule allows him time.
``My current workload is tremendous,'' he said. ``I want to catch the opportunity to make as many records as possible.''
``There are not many live Chinese music records available today,'' he explained. ``There has been too little done for the world to get to know Chinese music. This is why I gave up my settled life in China years ago and wandered about in foreign countries. I want the world to get to know Chinese music as soon as possible.'' ILLUSTRATION: FILE PHOTO
Xu Ke, of China, has pioneered the playing of Western music on the
erhu.
Graphic
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CONCERT FACTS
On Stage: ``Melody of Peace'' Erhu Concert, featuring Chinese
erhu virtuoso Xu Ke, playing western and Chinese master pieces.
Where: Chandler Recital Hall, Fine and Performing Arts Center,
Old Dominion University, Norfolk.
When: May 16 at 7:30 p.m., with lecture and demonstration by Xu
at 7 p.m.; and May 19 at 2 p.m., with lecture demonstration by Xu at
1:30 p.m. and a reception after concert.
Cost: $10. Call 423-1429 for more information.
KEYWORDS: PROFILE
by CNB