#ClassicsaDay #APAHM Week 1

May is designated Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. The Classics a Day team adopted that theme as well. For the month of May, the challenge is to post examples of classical music composed or performed by artists who share that heritage.

I limited myself to just posting Asian-American composers. And discovered a seemingly limitless number of composers to choose from -- both past and present.

Here are my picks for the first week of #ClassicsaDay #APAHM

05/03/21 Tan Dun - Concerto for String Orchestra and Pipa (1999)

Best known for his film scores, Tan Dun's works combine Chinese traditional music with Western forms. The pipa dates from the 2nd Century, CE.

05/04/21 Keiko Abe - The Wave Impressions Concerto for Marimba and Wind Orchestra

This Japanese marimbist and composer is credited with developing the modern 5-octave concert marimba in conjunction with Yamaha. Several of her works have become standards of the marimba repertoire.

05/05/21 Chen Yi - Percussion Concerto

Chinese-American composer and violinist Chen Yi has an impressive body of work, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated "Si Ji."

05/06/21 Andy Akiho - NO one To kNOW one

Andy Akiho is a percussionist and composer with eclectic tastes. Many of his compositions incorporate pan drums, like the one featured here.

05/07/21 Bright Sheng - String Quartet No. 3

Before emigrating to the U.S., Sheng studied and collected folk music in China and Tibet. He has also worked on the Silk Road Project.