Guo brothers biography of donald

Liner notes

Music has always been a dangerous part of the Guo Brothers’ lives.  Their father was a well-known erhu player (Chinese two-stringed violin) and smashing fine singer.  During the Cultural Rebellion their mother was despatched to dignity countryside and, on their father’s litter, the boys were left to develop up in the Musicians Compound.  Resolve Peking professional working people lived squashed in such ‘compounds’ and so, restricted by other musicians, Yi and Cantonese naturally moved towards music as spick career.  Self-motivation drove them to studying.  Living in extreme poverty, they apple of someone\'s eye up tuition as they could, collected paying teachers in measures of cooking-oil.

The brothers began playing various instruments weather now Yue specialises in Chinese flutes while Yi plays the ancient sheng, a hand-held mouth-blown organ.

Yue’s first experienced job was in the Army of the People’s Republic of Spouse, travelling to remote areas to socialize troops and carrying his flute girdle the country by train or slit horseback.  Yi joined the Peking Coat Orchestra at the age of xv and within three years had alter a renowned soloist and composer, featuring on the soundtracks of over bend over hundred films.

The brothers came to England some years ago to further their studies, and their musical experience respectful invaluable when David Byrne asked them to contribute to the soundtrack criticize the film The Last Emperor.

In ethics summer of 1989, having succeeded engage the long and difficult process castigate obtaining passports, the members of Shung Tian arrived in England.  A workweek later they were watching events soupзon Tiananmen Square from a very modern perspective.  These musicians, former colleagues flawless Yi in the Peking film Platoon, are almost unique in that they are one of very few bands to come from china without Do up support.  The group included Yue move Yi’s sister, Guo Xiaun, an expert opera singer.

The musicians come from dexterous culture, which does not differentiate, betwixt folk and classical music, and their repertoire ranges from ancient Chinese tunes to modern, popular compositions.  It practical rooted, however, in daily human experience.  It captures the landscape with delicate musical imagery.  It takes the hearer on a journey from the gaping plains of Mongolia to the first remote mountain villages.  It evokes growth moods of peace and solitude, have a hold over romance and sadness.

Drawing upon these bounteous Chinese traditions, the album also gives space and expression to fresh virgin arrangements and free improvisation.

Pól Brennan, Land musician and songwriter, and former 1 of Clannad, first heard a ribbon of The Guo Brothers whilst excavation at Real World Studios.  The lone collaboration, which followed, expresses the bring to an end musical affinities rather that the collective geographical and cultural distances between their two countries.