DESCRIPTION:
This is a very famous traditional pipa solo called "Sai Shang Qu" (塞上曲, Chinese classical tradition), interpreted here on pipa and guitar by Liu Fang and Michael O'Toole. Concert live recording on 26 September 2008 at Birr Arts Centre, during the tour in Ireland in association with their new CD release. The tour was sponsored by the Irish Arts Council & the Music Network.

The title 塞上曲 is translated sometimes as "Songs from the other side of the border". This piece of the typical lyrical style of the traditional pipa repertoire (often soft, meditative and poetic), is said to represent the sorrowful song of the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) noblewoman,Wang Zhaojun, a famous beauty who had to marry a barbarian prince for political reasons, sacrificing herself to the oppressor to save her country. This melancholic melody reflects her nostalgia, having realised that she would never see her friends and family again.
(source: http://www.philmultic.com/liufang/cds/duo3.html )

塞上曲, 琵琶吉他二重奏（由同名傳統古曲改編）
演奏者: 劉芳與麥克爾-噢圖
音樂會現場錄像. 樂曲在2008出版的專輯《易》中(http://www.philmultic.com/liufang/cds/duo3_cn.html )