Tan Dun (surname Tan, 譚盾; born August 18, 1957) is a Chinese composer, most widely known as the Grammy and Oscar award winning composer for the soundtracks of the movies Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero.

Tan Dun was born in the village of Simao, Changsha in the Hunan province of China. As a child, he was fascinated by the role in his village of the shaman, who conducted rituals and ceremonies, often set to music made with organic objects such as rocks and water. However, as a child in the midst of China's cultural revolution, this kind of "backward thinking" was frowned upon, and he was sent to work as a rice planter on a government commune.

That, however, had little effect on his affinity for music. He created his own musical group, utilizing peasants in the village and playing whatever they could, sometimes just banging on pots and pans. It was from these peasants that he began to learn to play traditional Chinese string instruments.

More on [ Tan Dun ]

NYT > Music

Music Review: Portraits Sketched With Razor’s Edge
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:01:57 -0000
There’s no mercy for the comfortable in the songs of Jarvis Cocker. It’s not because he’s some revolutionary outsider, but because he’s one of them.
Music Review: Bernstein as a Fount of Fusion
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:47:26 -0000
Elegance without ostentation: that would describe the overview of Leonard Bernstein songs that the pianist Bill Charlap and the singer Kurt Elling brought to Bernstein’s theater music.
Music Review: A Mercurial Narrator, Tackling a Web of Issues
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:58:16 -0000
Laurie Anderson tried on a basketful of murky perspectives like so many pairs of sunglasses in the first of her five Lincoln Center Festival performances.

NPR Topics: Music

G. Love Is Your 'Superhero Brother'
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:54:00 -0400
For its 10th album, Superhero Brother, G. Love & Special Sauce pulls back from the numerous guest appearances heard on recent albums and instead focuses on the core group. Hear G. Love perform solo versions of songs from the new album at WXPN.
80s Synth-Pop Duo Yaz Reunites
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0400
In the early 80s, Yaz was a favorite on dance floors worldwide. The duo was short-lived, but they scored multiple Top Ten hits in the U.S. and the U.K. Now Yaz is back together for its 25th anniversary.
Adele: Just A Voice And A Guitar
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:19:00 -0400
Coming up along with a slew of British singers who look back to classic '60s girl groups, Adele stands out with a big, bluesy voice. At just 20, she sounds wise beyond her years, writing songs of heartbreak and loneliness. Here, Adele performs songs from her debut CD, 19, with just a guitarist for accompaniment.

www.tennessean.com - Rss-News-Music Industry news

Radio execs tune in to a budding talent
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:04:00 -0500
She's young, pin-thin, blond and gorgeous.
Union says Toby Keith film is slighting musicians
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:19:00 -0500
The makers of the movie Beer For My Horses — which is being made by a music network, stars Toby Keith and features at least two Country Music Hall of Famers — have not signed the musician union's standard contract that would enable session musicians to receive payment from DVD sales, said the president of the Nashville Association of Musicians.
Sony BMG wins appeal of merger veto at top EU court
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:25:00 -0500
LUXEMBOURG — Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG won a ruling at the European Union's highest court to throw out a lower EU tribunal's decision that had temporarily jeopardized the formation of their Sony BMG music label.

Ultimate-Guitar.Com [News]

Led Zep Reunion Ruined By Plant / Page Rift?
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:44:15 -0000
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page have fallen out and this is the real reason why Led Zeppelin haven't reformed fully for a reunion tour.
Dean Zelinsky Parts Ways With Dean
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:29:45 -0000
Dean Zelinsky, founder of Dean Guitars, officially announced that he has parted ways with the company that he founded in 1976.
Eagles Of Death Metal And Hives For Co-Headlining Tour
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:40:19 -0000
Eagles Of Death Metal and The Hives have announced a co-headlining tour of North America, kicking off September 16 in Austin, TX.

Y! Music Unlimited Top Songs

#1: I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:07:37 -0000
(C) 2008 Capitol.
#2: Violet Hill - Coldplay
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:07:37 -0000
(C) 2008 EMI UK.
#3: No Air - Jordin Sparks
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:07:37 -0000
(C) 2007 19/Jive/Zomba.
#4: Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:07:37 -0000
(C) 2007 Syco Music.
#5: Shake It - Metro Station
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:07:37 -0000
(C) 2007 Red Ink.
#6: Take A Bow - Rihanna
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:07:37 -0000
(C) 2008 Def Jam.

Subscribe to Music RSS feed