An album focusing on the lutes of China, with nice works on the ruan and the pipa.
Art of the Chinese Lute is a mix of ancient and more contemporary compositions. The ancient compositions work well, though the use of the bass ruan for some, and a heavy hand on the pipa in others may make them somewhat more forceful than one might normally hear in Chinese classical music. A highlight of these is "The Tyrant Took Off His Armour," a sister-work to the better-known "Great Ambush." Miao Xiaoyun takes the opportunity to show off her chops on the pipa quite well, but focuses somewhat on the emotional content of the scene rather than the usual battle focus. The contemporary pieces are centered around the Yunnan province, and are essentially a sophisticated medley of the many musical forms of the various ethnic groups in the region. The manner in which they're put together though is the key here, and Miao is able to take full advantage of the composition to show a much lighter side, and some melodic abilities in addition to the heavier ancient works. Between the old and new, she covers a good bit of ground, and with worthwhile ability. Worth a listen as a basic lute primer, though there are other, larger compilations out there to be heard as well. ~ Adam Greenberg