Zi Lan Liao
Encyclopedia
Liao Zilan is an international concert circuit performer on the guzheng
(Chinese zither). She has performed at the Royal Albert Hall
and Royal Festival Hall
, and has toured Spain, Italy, France, Holland, Finland, United States, and Australia. She also participated at the WOMAD Recording Week in Bath, Somerset.
Liao began to learn the guzheng at the age of three, when she lived in Guangzhou
(Canton), Guangdong
, China
. By the age of nine, she was winning prizes in China, including the prestigious National Youth Music Competition award. She left China with her family in 1983 (at age 13) for the United Kingdom
, where she continued her music studies at the famous Chetham's School of Music
in Manchester
and at the Royal Academy of Music
in London. In addition to the guzheng, she also specializes in the Western concert harp
and Chinese traditional dance.
Apart from playing traditional music and works written by Chinese composers, Liao also has had composers outside China write music for her, which has widened her repertoire from classical to contemporary and electronic music. She has collaborated with Peter Gabriel and Nigel Kennedy, and worked with African, Indian, and European musicians in the Elekoto Ensemble of Akin Euba
. Her collaborative work with other world artists was released in 1995 on Real World Records
's A Week or Two in the Real World various artists CD.
Recently, she has extensively collaborated with her husband, Jah Wobble
. The piece, Heaven And Earth, was released on the CD with the same title by Island Records
in November 1995. She has since contributed both as a musician and cover-art designer to several other of Jah Wobble's recordings, such as The Celtic Poets, The Inspiration of William Blake, Elevator Music 1A, Mu, and Alpha One Three. Her current project with Wobble is entitled Chinese Dub.http://www.30hertzrecords.com/
She has also released, in both Europe and the United States, notable solo work, such as her guzheng concertos The River (which she performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
) and The Five Tone Dragon. She also recorded music for the Oscar-winning film The Last Emperor
. She has performed with the flutist Laura Falzon and premiered a work for flute and guzheng with her, composed by the Scottish composer Edward McGuire
.
In 2002, Liao began to work with renowned Welsh harp
ist Elinor Bennett
, and their duo performances were well received. In 2008, the duo presented compositions for guzheng and harp by the Welsh composer Bill Connor
at Liverpool University, as part of the Liverpool's European Capital of Culture
2008 programme.
Liao is presently a member of staff of Pagoda Cultural Club in Liverpool
, and helps to teach the children of the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra and Dance Group, both as a musician and choreographer. She has also served as a visiting teacher at Chetham's School of Music and King's College London
.
Guzheng
The guzheng or "gu zheng", also called zheng is a Chinese plucked zither. It has 18-23 or more strings and movable bridges....
(Chinese zither). She has performed at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
and Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
, and has toured Spain, Italy, France, Holland, Finland, United States, and Australia. She also participated at the WOMAD Recording Week in Bath, Somerset.
Liao began to learn the guzheng at the age of three, when she lived in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
(Canton), Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. By the age of nine, she was winning prizes in China, including the prestigious National Youth Music Competition award. She left China with her family in 1983 (at age 13) for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where she continued her music studies at the famous Chetham's School of Music
Chetham's School of Music
Chetham's School of Music , familiarly known as "Chets", is a specialist independent co-educational music school, situated in Manchester city centre, in North West England. It was established in 1969, incorporating Chetham's Hospital School, founded as a charity school by Humphrey Chetham in 1653...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London. In addition to the guzheng, she also specializes in the Western concert harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
and Chinese traditional dance.
Apart from playing traditional music and works written by Chinese composers, Liao also has had composers outside China write music for her, which has widened her repertoire from classical to contemporary and electronic music. She has collaborated with Peter Gabriel and Nigel Kennedy, and worked with African, Indian, and European musicians in the Elekoto Ensemble of Akin Euba
Akin Euba
Akin Euba is a Nigerian composer, musicologist, and pianist.Euba studied composition with Arnold Cooke at the Trinity College of Music, London, obtaining the diplomas of Fellow of the Trinity College London and Fellow of the Trinity College London . He received B.A. and M.A...
. Her collaborative work with other world artists was released in 1995 on Real World Records
Real World Records
Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's...
's A Week or Two in the Real World various artists CD.
Recently, she has extensively collaborated with her husband, Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble is an English bass guitarist, singer, poet and composer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but left the band after two albums...
. The piece, Heaven And Earth, was released on the CD with the same title by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
in November 1995. She has since contributed both as a musician and cover-art designer to several other of Jah Wobble's recordings, such as The Celtic Poets, The Inspiration of William Blake, Elevator Music 1A, Mu, and Alpha One Three. Her current project with Wobble is entitled Chinese Dub.http://www.30hertzrecords.com/
She has also released, in both Europe and the United States, notable solo work, such as her guzheng concertos The River (which she performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society is a society based in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, that organises concerts and other events mainly in the field of classical music. The society is the second oldest of its type in the United Kingdom and its orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic...
) and The Five Tone Dragon. She also recorded music for the Oscar-winning film The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor is a 1987 biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures...
. She has performed with the flutist Laura Falzon and premiered a work for flute and guzheng with her, composed by the Scottish composer Edward McGuire
Edward McGuire (composer)
Edward McGuire is a Scottish composer.He studied composition with James Iliff at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1966 to 1970 and then with Ingvar Lidholm in Stockholm in 1971....
.
In 2002, Liao began to work with renowned Welsh harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist Elinor Bennett
Elinor Bennett
Elinor Bennett is a Welsh harpist.Bennett was born in Llanidloes, Wales. As a harpist, she is one of the foremost performers in the world. She has recorded twelve solo albums, and is one of the organisers of the Wales International Harp Festival. She also runs an annual 'Harp College'...
, and their duo performances were well received. In 2008, the duo presented compositions for guzheng and harp by the Welsh composer Bill Connor
Bill Connor
William Joseph Connor was a professional football player who spent two seasons in the National Football League with the Boston Bulldogs in 1929 and the Newark Tornadoes in 1930.-Notes:...
at Liverpool University, as part of the Liverpool's European Capital of Culture
European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....
2008 programme.
Liao is presently a member of staff of Pagoda Cultural Club in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and helps to teach the children of the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra and Dance Group, both as a musician and choreographer. She has also served as a visiting teacher at Chetham's School of Music and King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.