This is live recording of the concert duo pipa and guitar by Liu Fang and Michael O'Toole in Bray, during the tour in Ireland in 2008 for the release of their new CD "Changes" in Autumn 2008. This beautiful piece was originally composed by Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan for orchestra.

This is the additional piece (encore) of the "Duo pipa and guitar" concert with guitarist Michael O'Toole on September 27, 2008, 8pm, at the Bray Mermaid Arts Centre, Ireland. info: http://www.philmultic.com/ensemble/duo/pipa_guitar.html Title of the piece: Planxty Fitzgerald, by Turlough O'Carolan

Liu Fang demonstrates the playing techniques of pipa (Chinese four stringed lute) - plucking the string with two fingers, and tremolo with five fingers. This is extracted from the one-hour documentary produced by BravoCanada, broadcasted by CBC TV on January 12 and April 5, 2008

An extract from a documentary by CBC TV (BravoCanada) broadcasted on January 12, 2008, 8:30pm. We thank CBC TV (Bravo) for the permission to use this for demo purposes.

"Falling Snow decorate the evergreen" (Fei Hua Dian Cui), traditional classic. Using natural scenes or phenomena to describe inner feeling and determination is quite common in Chinese arts. This master piece, derived from very old times, is like a Traditional Chinese painting, depicts the snowing in a evergreen forest, beautiful and harsh. Since the pine tree can resist extreme cold, it is a symbol of a strong self. This demo is from concert live recording.

"The ambush from ten sides" (classical tradition): This is one of the most famous master pieces from the traditional pipa repertoire, martial style (as contrast to lyrical style). With its highly virtuoso programmatic effects and tremendous power, this piece is regarded as the most representative of the "martial repertoire" of classical pipa solo. It describes the glorious victory of Liu Bang over Xiang Yu in 202 BC, the same theme as "The King doffs his Armour", however, from a totally different view point. Concert live recording.

"Red River" (Honghe Yejin), composed by Zheng Qingrong in the 1980s based on a folk melody of Yi people inYunnan Province, China. This is a concert live recording during a tour in Frnace in 2005.

Liu Fang (pipa) and Malcolm Goldstein (violin) duet improvisation, Instants Chavirés, Paris, France, May 21, 2004.

On the theme of an air to dance (Liu Tianhua, 1895-1932). Though died very young, Liu Tianhua is one of the greatest composers in Chinese history. He composed three pieces for pipa and several other pieces for different instruments, all became master pieces of classical repertoire. The composition of this piece was inspired after attending a concert of classical Indian dance music.

The autumn moon in the palace of a Han emperor – traditional guzheng music from Shandong province, east China with its slow rhythm and, through the use of the left hand skills of rubs, slides and pressing to a slow rhythm, this tune describes the miserable loneliness of the palace maidens, looking at the full moon while sinking into a resentful mood and longing for a return to their parents' homes.

Liu Fang concert at Theatre de la Vill (Paris) on May 8, 2006 - Guzheng solo: "Guangling fantasia" - a famous ancient guqin tune, later transcribed by Wang Changyuan for guzheng solo. The original guqin solo was composed by the renowned scholar and guqin master, Ji Kang, one of the “seven gentlemen in the bamboo forest” in the Wei period (3rd century). It is said to recount a story in the epoch of the Warring States (around 3rd century B.C.) about Nie Zheng assassinating the King of the Han Kingdom to avenge the murder of his father. The entire piece is filled with overpowering momentum; the style is unique, expressing deep feelings with intense fight scenes. According to history, the composer, Ji Kang, who refused to serve the tyrant emperor Sima, was persecuted and finally killed by the order of the Emperor. Ji Kang performed this tune for his friends and faithful students on the site just before he was executed.

Liu Fang concert live recording: "The King Chu doffs his Armour" (or Bang Wang Xie Jia, master piece on pipa solo from the Chinese classical tradition). This masterpiece of pipa is a musical description of a tragic historical event: the defeat of King Xiang Yu who thought himself invincible. During the war which followed the foundation of the Han Empire (202 BC - 220 AD), Xiang Yu suffered a fatal defeat. The pipa depicts the scene of the battle, noises of the soldiers' flight, and the indescribable feeling of being defeated. The performance of this piece demands a whole range of complex techniques and virtuosity, with speed, precision and restraint. Concert live recording.