Composer Amazed by the Erhu

Shen Yun Performing Arts performed to a full house Saturday afternoon at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center in Los Angeles. The audience responded warmly to the performers.
Composer Amazed by the Erhu
Composer Roger Ward was enthralled with the erhu solo during Shen Yun's performance on Feb. 6. NTDTV
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<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/edited_roger_pix_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/edited_roger_pix_medium.jpg" alt="Composer Roger Ward was enthralled with the erhu solo during Shen Yun's performance on Feb. 6. (NTDTV)" title="Composer Roger Ward was enthralled with the erhu solo during Shen Yun's performance on Feb. 6. (NTDTV)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-99423"/></a>
Composer Roger Ward was enthralled with the erhu solo during Shen Yun's performance on Feb. 6. (NTDTV)
LOS ANGELES—Shen Yun Performing Arts performed to a full house Saturday afternoon at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center in Los Angeles. The audience responded warmly to the performers.

Classical musician and composer Roger Ward was among the audience members. Serving as the composer-in-residence for the California Philharmonic, he composed Symphony No. 1 last July for the California Philharmonic. He has had four pieces premiere in the Walt Disney Concert Hall since it opened.

Shen Yun Performing Arts is a New York-based dance and music company. In addition to classical Chinese dance, Shen Yun includes a live orchestra that combines classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments. It also includes a captivating solo performance by erhu virtuoso Qi Xiaochun.

Regarding the erhu performance, Mr. Ward reflected, “That was my favorite part of the show. Being a musician, you have to go for your favorite thing. It always amazes me that so much sound comes out of that little instrument. A little, teeny box, and the neck of it is very narrow, and it is only two strings. And it’s gorgeous; gorgeous—I loved it.”

Then, speaking generally, Mr. Ward was just happy to see the show. He said, “It’s lovely. I think people all over the world would love it. I’m just so glad I came.”