Lang Lang: In his own words
Series: Musicians in their own words
From: David Schulman
Length: 00:04:07
- Playing
- Lang Lang: In his own words
- From
- David Schulman
Lang Lang is the most heralded new classical pianist to appear for several years. He's an amazing talent at the keyboard, but his musical expressiveness through words and exuberant impromptu vocalizations is the heart of this piece.
Lang Lang (pronounced "Lung Lung") is touring widely, and this piece works well pegged to a local performance.
Two versions of this feature are provided. The full mix starts with a scene across from Carnegie Hall, and includes a talked-and-sung description of how he interprets a Brahms Intermezzo as a cascade of vivid images. The short mix, which will fit the 4:00 ATC cutaway, omits the Carnegie Hall introduction.
As in all the pieces in David Schulman's CPB-supported Musicians in their own words series, the story is told through a mix of the performer's voice and music. There is no reporter's voice heard, allowing the feature to be seamlessly incorporated into station news, talk, or music programming.
Scripts for intro and outro are attached, and may be edited at will.
Upcoming performances:
10/1 & 2, 2004, Avery Fisher Hall, New York
10/5 2004 Avery Fisher Hall, New York
10/15 &17, 2004 Honolulu Symphony, Honolulu, HI
10/26 2004 Coronado Theatre, Rockford, IL
10/28 2004 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul, MN
10/29 2004 Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, TX
10/31 2004 South Bend, IN
11/3 2004 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
11/4 2004 Louisville, KY,
11/ 7, 2004 Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA
11/8 2004 Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Scottsdale, AZ
11/10 2004 Newman Center - Gates Concert Hall, Denver, CO
11/11 2004 Lensic Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe, NM
11/13 2004 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA
11/16 2004 Meany Hall, Seattle, WA
11/19 2004 Stude Concert Hall, Houston, TX
11/23 2004 Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA
This piece debuted on PRX. First aired on WBUR's Here and Now.
Also in the Musicians in their own words series
Ron Carter: In his own words
(00:07:27)
From: David Schulman
Ron Carter is an icon of jazz. He has played his bass on more than 2000 albums. His name, however, is most vividly linked with Miles Davis. Carter's searching bass lines ...
Stephane Wrembel and "The Tao of Django"
(00:10:33)
From: David Schulman
Stephane Wrembel isn't a conventional guitar hero. But his star is rising fast nonetheless. He wrote music for the last two Woody Allen films, including the Oscar-winning ...
Benny Golson: a Jazz legend in his own words
(00:05:46)
From: David Schulman
The man who wrote some of the best known standards in jazz reflects on a career that included writing "Killer Joe," talking his way into the great Art Blakey band, quitting ...
Cyro Baptista: in his own words
(00:07:06)
From: David Schulman
Cyro Baptista in his percussion garage ...
A musicians' guide to warming up
(00:04:30)
From: David Schulman
What do you do to warm up? With Gillian Welch, Lang Lang, Cecilia Bartoli, Albert Kuvezin, Yo-Yo Ma ...
Cecilia Bartoli: In her own words
(00:04:11)
From: David Schulman
One of the world's great operatic singers explores what it means to approach the human voice as an instrument -- like a trumpet or violin.
Bo Diddley: in his own words (in memory)
(00:07:37)
From: David Schulman
A late-career portrait of one of rock-and-roll's legendary creators.
Gillian Welch ENCORE: In her own words
(00:02:45)
From: David Schulman
Gillian Welch reconsiders the fate of a fallen American hero: Elvis Presley.
Poncho Sanchez: In his own words
(00:03:16)
From: David Schulman
Even without a conga drum handy, a master of Latin Jazz finds a way to demonstrate the essence of the mambo.
Piece Description
Lang Lang is the most heralded new classical pianist to appear for several years. He's an amazing talent at the keyboard, but his musical expressiveness through words and exuberant impromptu vocalizations is the heart of this piece. Lang Lang (pronounced "Lung Lung") is touring widely, and this piece works well pegged to a local performance. Two versions of this feature are provided. The full mix starts with a scene across from Carnegie Hall, and includes a talked-and-sung description of how he interprets a Brahms Intermezzo as a cascade of vivid images. The short mix, which will fit the 4:00 ATC cutaway, omits the Carnegie Hall introduction. As in all the pieces in David Schulman's CPB-supported Musicians in their own words series, the story is told through a mix of the performer's voice and music. There is no reporter's voice heard, allowing the feature to be seamlessly incorporated into station news, talk, or music programming. Scripts for intro and outro are attached, and may be edited at will. Upcoming performances: 10/1 & 2, 2004, Avery Fisher Hall, New York 10/5 2004 Avery Fisher Hall, New York 10/15 &17, 2004 Honolulu Symphony, Honolulu, HI 10/26 2004 Coronado Theatre, Rockford, IL 10/28 2004 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul, MN 10/29 2004 Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, TX 10/31 2004 South Bend, IN 11/3 2004 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 11/4 2004 Louisville, KY, 11/ 7, 2004 Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA 11/8 2004 Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Scottsdale, AZ 11/10 2004 Newman Center - Gates Concert Hall, Denver, CO 11/11 2004 Lensic Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe, NM 11/13 2004 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA 11/16 2004 Meany Hall, Seattle, WA 11/19 2004 Stude Concert Hall, Houston, TX 11/23 2004 Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA This piece debuted on PRX. First aired on WBUR's Here and Now.
3 Comments
|
Review of Lang Lang: In his own wordsNice mix. Interesting comments rendered more charming by the broken English. It has a nice story arc. |
|
Review of Lang Lang: In his own wordsThoughtful producers provide two versions, one with a sweet scene – the pianist outside Carnegie Hall – one without. It’s just wonderful to hear this pianist talk -- he’s so excited -- and his playing is amazing. This is perfect to air around his extensive upcoming US tour, the producers offer the details. But as is the case with the others in this series, any time airing is fine. To hear these kind of pieces in the middle of the news day is like when the sun surprisingly breaks through on a solid gray afternoon. There's nothing like a little hit of art oxygen to refresh the soul. sl |
Broadcast History
PRX debut. First aired on "WBUR's "Here and Now."
Transcript
Keywords: Lang Lang, piano concerto, Tchaikovsky, interpretation, youth, narrative, Musicians in their own words, WUNC, David Schulman
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Piece Title:
Lang Lang: In his own words
FULL MIX:
Piece Length:
4:45 (4:04 tape time + script)
TAPE IN: "Hi everyone, we are now in New York City ..."
TAPE OUT: Ends with music. Last spoken words: "... always play with freshness."
SHORT MIX
Piece Length:
4:00 (3:21 tape time + script)
TAPE IN: Starts with music "Basically it's like talking to play music ..."
TAPE OUT: Ends with music. Last spoken words: "... always play with freshness."
Musical Works
All excerpts performed by Lang Lang:
"Islamey," by Mily Balakirev, from Lang Lang,Telarc, 2001, approx :30
Intermezzo in A major, Opus 118 Number 4, by Johannes Brahms, from Lang Lang,Telarc, 2001, approx 1:30
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor, Opus 23, by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, from Tchaikovsky/Mendelssohn First Piano Concertos,Deutsche Grammophon, 2003, Accompaniedby the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by Daniel Barenboim. approx 1:00
Additional Files
- (description) (LangLang.jpg)
- (description) (LangLangPRXscript)
- (description) (LangLang.jpg)




Eric Nuzum
Posted on March 10, 2004 at 05:53 AM | Permalink
Review of Lang Lang: In his own words
Even though these are good pieces, we'd never come up with a good idea for how to use them until the producer amde a great suggestion. One of the artists (this featured artist), Lang Lang, is coming to town. Airing it is a great way to offer an interesting piece, demonstrate your connection to the arts, and not have to devote your own staff time to doing so! Another great way to let PRX make your station sound better with a minimal resource investment (sorry if that sounds like a commercial, but it’s true).
The producer might actually try to focus on touring performers, thus providing a solid local connection to stations.