Classical Classroom, Episode 36: Catherine Lu welcomes the Year of the Horse with the Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto

01/30/14 • 31 min

The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto was written by two Chinese composers, Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, in 1959. In honor of Chinese New Year – which begins 1/31 – Houston Public Media's Catherine Lu has come back to the Classroom to teach us all about this gorgeous piece, which was based on possibly the most tragic opera ever.

Audio production by Todd “??” Hulslander with ??????? by Dacia Clay.

Music in this episode:

– Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao – violin by Gil Shaham

– “Leading a Camel” from the The Flowing River Water, by Yang Yi He (erhu example)

...and don’t miss Catherine Lu’s 2-hour Chinese New Year classical music celebration on Classical 91.7 (and on classical917.org) at noon and again at 10pm, Friday (1/31)!

Audio production by Todd “??” Hulslander with ??????? by Dacia Clay.

Music in this episode:

– Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao – violin by Gil Shaham

– “Leading a Camel” from the The Flowing River Water, by Yang Yi He (erhu example)

...and don’t miss Catherine Lu’s 2-hour Chinese New Year classical music celebration on Classical 91.7 (and on classical917.org) at noon and again at 10pm, Friday (1/31)!

Previous Episode

Classical Classroom Research Presentation: Classical Music Rivalries!

Are you ready to rumble?? Because these classical composers and musicians are. In this Classical Classroom short, learn all about how rivalries between musicians go back as far as music does, and how music is better for it.

Audio production by Todd “Mr. T” Hulslander, with a mean left hook from Dacia Clay and jabs by MusicLab intern, Daniel Webbon.

Music used in this episode includes:

– “Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)” by Bill Conti from the Rocky soundtrack

– “Lithium” by Nirvana from Nevermind

– “Hypnotize” by the Notorious B.I.G. from Life After Death

– Overture from The Barber of Seville by Giachino Rossini

– Sinfonia Veneziana: Allegro assai by Antonio Salieri

– Horn Call from Act 2 of Siegfried by Richard Wagner

– Music of Changes, Book 1 by John Cage

– Structures by Pierre Boulez

– Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, op. 15 by Ludwig van Beethoven (played by Lang Lang)

– “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift from Red

Next Episode

Classical Classroom, Episode 37: George Heathco on Louis Andriessen and Alt-Classical

Louis Andriessen is one of the most important contemporary composers you’ve (probably) never heard of. His work isn’t widely played because he’s written many pieces for varieties of ensembles that don’t exist. In fact, specially created ensembles have sprung up because of Andriessen’s pieces, including the famous British ensemble, Icebreaker. Guitarist, composer, and co-founder of Liminal Space Contemporary Music Ensemble, George Heathco, teaches us all about Andriessen and his contributions to the alt classical movement. Or indie classical. Or whatever you wanna call it.

Music used in this episode includes:

Hoketus by Louis Andriessen
De Materie by Louis Andriessen (begins with 144 repetitions of same chord)
De Staat by Louis Andriessen
Yo Shakespeare by Michael Gordon
Pierced by David Lang
“Bone Chapel” from O Death by Oscar Bettison

Audio production from Todd “Twinkles” Hulslander with very marginal oversight from Dacia Clay.

PS, One of the images attached to this article is not George Heathco, but his TV doppleganger George from Being Human. Can you tell which is which? One of them loves Twilight. (Apologies, non-specific George!)