Music on 2013 Chinese New Year's Eve

普谷華協辦2013新年慶祝活動 2013 Lunar New Year Celebration sponsored by Pomona Valley Chinese Association 

'E String Trio医弦樂三重奏' (Kim Shwe, Ken Chan, Shean Chang) played at the Museum of History and Art, Ontario 除夕Feb. 9, 2013 (12:00 noon to 3 p.m.).

We were joyful to bring the joy of music to audience ranging from Spanish spoken people, American to Chinese.  We were particularly surprised by the presence of congresswoman Judy Chu.  She loves Chinese songs.  We played "What A Friend We Have In Jesus耶穌恩友" and Xi Yang Yang喜洋洋 for her.

I am playing what I call Taiwanese cello, variation of the Chinese violin erhu.  This instrument has a key role in accompanying Taiwanese opera and is favored by many amateur and/or street musicians.  As a kid in Taiwan, I was very familiar with welcoming a blind musician playing this instrument with his companion plucking a 3-string 'moon' instrument at the door of our bamboo house.  You surely can hear me playing this instrument with a blind musician's spirit.

We also had on our program 'Purple Bamboo紫竹调', 'Raining Night Flower雨夜花' and 'Small Town Story小城故事'.  We played an impromptu 'Two Springs Reflect the Moon二泉映月'.  Upon audience's request, we played 'Home On The Range', "The Drum Song鳳陽花鼓‘，'Moon Speaks for My Heart月亮代表我的', 'Oh! Susanna', etc.

She was singing America's national anthem.

The Taiwanese cello works very well with the Chinese violin erhu because it has a lower pitch range (very close to the viola).  The erhu is a medium-high ranged Chinese two-stringed fiddle. 

Played for the emperor.

Professor Liu dressed up as the emperor.

Ken was interviewed twice on 'L.A. Living with Juliette Zhuo'.  He played his favorite Chinese songs with the harmonica.

 My erhu is strung with a gut string (tuned to D) and a steel string (tuned to A).

Yawen 雅文 president of the Pomona Valley Chinese Association handed out 'Thank You' recognition to us.  Ken Chan, MD, has also a Ph.D in chemical engineering, USC.  We were working in the 80s for 76 Union Oil research, Brea, CA.

Kim Shwe (originally from Burma) is managing her busband's dental office.

My Ph.D is also in chemical engineering, U. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1980.

My elder son Young Young played a few songs with the violin. He substituted Dr. Bryan Chan for the violin role who originally planned to play with us.  Young Young is currently working at Dr. Bryan Chan's clinic in Upland.

Dr. Bryan Chan played the violin in the party taking place at his home in Upland (2-14-2010).  Bryan has been practicing family medicne in Upland.

He accepted the 'Thank You' recognition for Bryan.

 ‘獨樂樂，不如與衆樂樂。’
Share the joy of music with people.

Do we look professional?

'E String Trio医弦樂三重奏' (Kim Shwe, Ken Chan, Shean Chang) and Young Young Chang, UC Santa Barbara graduate.  (除夕Feb. 9, 2013)