The Squid's Ear Magazine


Cong, Zhao : Rotating, Rotating (Hitorri)

Three solo tracks by Zhao Cong, who develops suspenseful sonic environments over which she inventively and patiently adds daily objects, sounds from her mixer, condenser microphone, her voice, a cardpaper tube, no input feedback, contact microphones, and a home ballroom light, each piece evolving with a unique disposition towards certain associative sounds; fascinating.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Zhao Cong-daily objects, mixer, condenser microphone, voice, cardpaper tube, no input feedback, contact microphone, home ballroom light


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Label: Hitorri
Catalog ID: hitorri-983
Squidco Product Code: 27366

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2019
Country: Japan
Packaging: Cardstock Sleeve, sealed
Tracks 1 and 2 recorded in Beijing, China, on June 9th, 2016, by Zhu Wenbo.

Track 3 recorded live at Ftarri, in Tokyo, Japan, on January 7th, 2018, by Hiroyuki Ura.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Zhao Cong is a Beijing-based experimental/improvisational musician. In addition to performing in live events in Beijing such as Zooming' Night, organized by composer/performer Zhu Wenbo, she has in recent years been expanding her range of activity, visiting Japan each year and performing in various locations around the country. She has also released solo and duo albums on Zhu Wenbo's cassette label, Zoomin' Night.

This CD contains three solo tracks by Zhao Cong. Tracks 1 and 2, each about 20 minutes, were recorded at her home in Beijing in June 2016. Track 3 (about 29 minutes) was recorded in concert at Ftarri, Tokyo, in January 2018. Only the second track is previously released--on Zhao Cong's debut solo album, Afternoon, a cassette tape that came out on Zoomin' Night in 2016 and has since sold out. On that album the title was "Twice, or More," and on this CD it has changed to "Electric Rotating." Tracks 1 and 3, respectively called "Acousting Rotating" and "Rotating, Rotating," are previously unreleased works.

Zhao Cong arranges a mixer, a cardboard cylinder, household items, and a hemispherical lamp (whose small light has a visual effect) on the same table, manipulates mixer feedback and contact mike, and produces delicate sustained sounds and (as if inserting them into the sustained sounds) numerous and varied noises. While her performance style and sounds are restrained, listeners drifting along in these sounds and the gentle flow of time are left with an indescribable and vivid impression. A masterpiece."-Hitorri


Artist Biographies

Zhao Cong: "As a musician, dedication to Pipa (Chinese lute)has rewarded her top prize at the national competition. As a teacher, deep love for teaching has won her awards of education.

With her Pipa, she has toured worldwide for performance, from Athens to Paris. With her Pipa, she has produced CD albums to make her own music experience and knowledge to more learners.

Her innovative Pipa was recognized as a patent. Her CD album "Carman"was distributed worldwide. Her latest production"Dance in the moon"was made in Denmark. And her symphony concerts were accompanied by many masters.

She embraces Pipa with great sentiments. She spreads traditional Chinese music with deep patriotism.

Zhao Cong was born to a family of musicians, studied pipa with her mother at very early age, and developed an extraordinary interest in this ancient Chinese instrument in her childhood.

At the age of 13, she won first prize in the Jilin Provincial Competition for Traditional Instrumental Music, and at the age of 16, she won second prize in the National Competition. In 1996, she entered the Central Conservatory of Music for her excellent performance, and followed Professor Li Guang Hua, a renowned music educator in China. In 1998, Zhao Cong held her first solo concert in Beijing. After the graduation in 2000, she won first place in the professional qualification test hosted by the Ministry of Culture and was recruited as first pipa soloist in the Central Orchestra for Chinese Music in Beijing. She was later elected as a committee member of Young excellent artist by Chinese Culture Ministry."-Version 2, edited by Erkan-Yilmaz on 13 February 2011



"Zhao Cong plays the ancient Chinese pipa, a four-stringed instrument sometimes referred to as the Chinese lute. She learned to play from a very early age and won her first important award at the age of 13. Zhao was later recruited as first pipa soloist of the Central Orchestra for Chinese Music in Beijing.

Zhao has toured in over 20 countries and performed for a dozen heads of state. Her popularity outside China and extensive touring have broadened her musical references to embrace other musical cultures and traditions, so that she now often performs a fascinating blend of classical Chinese music and music with Western references."-Dali

-Last.FM (also Dali - https://www.dali-speakers.com/sound-academy/dali-music-releases/dali-cd-vol-3/zhao-cong/) (https://www.last.fm/music/Zhao+cong/+wiki)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Acoustic Rotating 19:53

2. Electric Rotating 22:32

3. Rotating, Rotating 28:48

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Stringed Instruments
Unusual Vocal Forms
Objects and Home-made Instruments
Asian Improvisation & Jazz
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Experimental & Electronic Music

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