Strum, Bow, Roar

Strum, Bow, Roar – 88 Strings, Vancouver Erhu Quartet, Multicultural Wind Ensemble
7:30pm Friday April 3, 2026年4月3日星期五晚上7點半
【彈、拉、吹】– 88弦彈撥樂團、溫哥華二胡四重奏、多元文化管樂團

This concert presents three Vancouver ensembles: 88 Strings, Vancouver Erhu Quartet, and Multicultural Wind Ensemble. While using instruments within the same family, either plucked, bowed, or winds, they bring together musicians and traditions from different cultures. Reflecting Canada’s multicultural environment, these ensembles and their collaborating composers explore the similarities and differences between their instruments and musical traditions.

88 Strings video 1  88 Strings video 2

Vancouver Erhu Quartet audio     

Multicultural Wind Ensemble video 1      Multicultural Wind Ensemble video 2 

 

Nominated by the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards, the Multicultural Wind Ensemble was formed in 2023 by Persian ney player/composer Amir Eslami. While there is long tradition of winds and percussion music in different cultures, the Multicultural Wind Ensemble’s combination of Asian wind instruments with Persian drums is a unique voice in Vancouver’s world music scene. 

Amir Eslami – ney 波斯笛
Zhongxi Wu 吳忠喜 – suona 嗩吶 & sheng 笙
Charlie Lui 呂畇初 – dizi 笛子
Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos – shakuhachi 日本尺八
Hamin Honari – tombak & daf 波斯手鼓

 

Formed in 2020, the Vancouver Erhu Quartet explores the sonic possibilities combining the erhu (Chinese violin) with western strings. The quartet’s all-Asian members represent Taiwanese, Chinese, Punjabi, and Korean communities. Their interpretation of contemporary works is fused with the sensitivity and sense of breath from Asian traditions. At the same time, the musicians have performed/studied various musical styles to explore innovative approaches. Together they bring expertise in various genres, from traditional, contemporary, classical, avant-garde, to world/cross-cultural music.

Jun Rong 戎峻 – erhu 二胡
Lan Tung 董籃 – erhu 二胡
Parmela Attariwala – viola 中提琴
Sungyong Lim 林成容 – cello 大提琴

 

88 Strings (formed in 2020) mixes traditional Chinese, Persian and Western plucked instruments and blends together classical and world music from Spain, China, Taiwan, Persia, France, and Canada.

Dailin Hsieh 謝岱霖: zheng 古箏
Joy Yeh: harp 豎琴
John Oliver: guitar 吉他
Ali Razmi: tar 波斯塔爾琴

 

check out the full programming of The 7th Sound of Dragon Music Festival – April 2-5, 2026

Get Festival Pass for all 3 concerts (Discount Price)

“Vancouver’s biennial celebration of Asian sounds returns with a program that spans everything from new Chinese chamber music to a genre-smashing showcase of intercultural improvisation”. – Georgia Straight

presented by the Sound of Dragon Society