A Moving Sound / ETHEL Quartet – The Wheel of Life

A Moving Sound is a Taiwanese quartet of contemporary world music with strong roots in traditional East Asian music. The ensemble is made up of an erhu, two Zhong ruan (instrument of the lute family), percussion and the agile voice of Mia Hsieh. It may be one of the most original “world music” ensembles you will have heard. Hsieh is particularly impressive in her ability to master different styles of traditional chanting. We sometimes have the impression that she transports us to the era of Japanese court theatre, and elsewhere, to Carnatic India or imperial Persia. Fascinating. The Wheel of Life is an encounter with New York string quartet ETHEL, a very eclectic ensemble that plays as much serious contemporary stuff (from Zorn to Riley, by way of Julia Wolfe or Arvo Pärt), as rock and crossover.

The bold personality of the Taiwanese ensemble is well balanced by the adventurous classicism of the ETHELs. Hsieh’s undulating, timeless melodies blend with the accompanying contrapuntal lines drawn by the Western strings. Two ensembles each seeking new ways to develop the musical language of today could not fail to create a surprising and stimulating encounter.