Concerti

For Western Symphony Orchestra

Bekmambetov, Eskender:

Through the Balkans with Pipa for String Orchestra and Solo Pipa

Türing, Bräm:

Concerto for Pipa

Chen Siang 陈思昂:

​Sunrise Through Dispersing Clouds 云开日出 : Concerto for Pipa

Chen Yi 陈怡:

"Southern Scenes" a double concerto for flute, pipa, and orchestra (2017)

Du Yun:

"Ears of the Book"  听书 Concerto for Pipa (2023), for Wu Man co-commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Detroit Orchestra, and the Carnagie Hall, Premiered February 29, 2024 Carnegie - Zankel Hall, The Knights with Wu Man 吴蛮 soloist, Music Director- Eric Jacobson

Tan Dun 谭盾: 

Concerto for String Orchestra and Pipa: is derived from Tan Dun's theater piece Ghost Opera (see More Info tab for link). Set in four movements to be performed without pause, the piece opens with elements of minimalism, includes different styles of American dance rhythms, uses Bach quotations, and highlights Chinese elements drawn out of the pipa solos.

Premiere: January 6, 2006- 

SOLOISTS

Wu Man 吴蛮

PERFORMERS

Nashville Symphony

CONDUCTOR

Byung-Hyun Rhee

Double Concerto for String Orchestra, Pipa, and Zheng (2021)

Harrison, Lou:

Concerto for Pipa with String Orchestra, 1997, Dedicated to Dennis Russel Davies, Wu Man, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. 

Thomas, Christian: 

Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra"Dragon", dedicated to Liu Fang for the year of the Dragon, 2024

Gao Hong 高红: 

Yue Xing 樂·行 for Pipa & Orchestra – Completed 2025. Commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra. Premiered by the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Norman Huynh, with Pipa soloist Gao Hong at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, MN.

​Musical Journey for Pipa with Western Orchestra – Completed 2023. Commissioned by the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis for its 70th season. Premiered by the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, with Gao Hong as Pipa soloist and Cary John Franklin conducting, on April 29, 2023, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis, MN.

Guangxi Impression for Pipa and Orchestra – Completed 2022. Commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra and premiered on February 5, 2022, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, conducted by Junping Qian, with Gao Hong as Pipa soloist.

Green Willow Tree - Double Concerto for Pipa, Violin and Orchestra - Completed 2014. Premiered by the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, Jere Lantz, Conductor, Minneapolis.

Flying Dragon Concerto – for Pipa and Orchestra. Completed 2005. Commissioned by American Composers Forum Jerome Composers Commissioning Program. Premiered by Gao Hong, Pipa, and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, Jere Lantz, Conductor, at Lake Harriet Bandshell, Minneapolis.

Han Lan-Kui (韩兰魁):

"Qilian Rhapsody" (祁连狂想）Concerto for Pipa

Hu Xiao-Ou:

"Fire, Illusion and Instinct" Concerto for Pipa

Lemay, Robert: 

"Cordes, supercordes", for pipa and string orchestra

Liang Lei 梁雷:

"Five Seasons" concerto for pipa and orchestra (2010/2014)

Li Bo Chen 李博禅:

"Late Autumn" ​《晚秋》 Concerto for Pipa

Liu Dehai 刘德海:

"Little Sisters of the Grassland" 草原小姐妹 Concerto for Pipa (with Wang Yen Chai and Wu Tsu Chiang), completed March 1973, premiered December 1976

"Emperor Chu Shedding his Armor" (霸王卸甲) Concerto for Pipa (orchestated by Rui Xue 芮雪)

Mettraux, Laurent: 

Double Concerto for Pipa and Violin

Minoru Miki 三木稔:

Pipa Concerto in three movements

Pipa Ballad for solo pipa and string orchestra

Mo Fan: 

Ballade of Eternal Sarrow

Schnyder, Daniel:

​Mozart in China, for solo pipa and string orchestra

Tjeknavorian, Loris:

​Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra

Wang Danhong 王丹红 : 

"Cloud Blossom" 云想花想 Concerto for Pipa (2013), commissioned by Zhao, Cong 赵聪

Yao Chen 姚晨:

​"Contemplation on Tanyao Caves" Concerto for Pipa and Chamber Orchestra (2021)

Yang Jing 杨静:

"Fire and Earth": Pipa concerto with String orchestra and Percussion

"Winter on Moscow"- for pipa and string orchestra

Ye Xiaogang 叶小纲:

​Pipa Concerto (2001)

Zhao, Cong 赵聪:

"Flying Fairies of the Silk Road" 丝路飞天: Concerto for Pipa (2014), commissioned by The China National Traditional Orchestra

"Good Fortune and Everlasting Prosperity" 福吉天长 (2018), commissioned byt the Publicity Department of the Jilian Provincial Party Committee. 

"Bloom" 绽放 Concerto for Pipa (with songs by Ma Jiuyue)

"Blossoming Melodies from Shanghai" 乐鸣东方 Concerto for Pipa, commissioned by the Propaganda Department of Shanghai Pudong District Party Committee 

Zhao, Jiping 趙季平:

Pipa Concerto No. 2,  for Wu ManWorld premiered by Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Sydney Opera House, Oct, 2013, co-commissioned by Sydney Symphony Orchestra, NCPA and other US orchestras

Zhao, Long 周龙:

"King Chu Doffs in Armor" Concerto for Pipa (2001)

For Chinese Traditional Orchestra 

Luk Wai Chun ​陸尉俊 : 

Rock Pipa Rhapsody《搖滾琵琶狂想曲》(2026)  for pipa and Chinese Orchestra [11'] ＊ commissioned by Zhang Ying 張瑩委約

Moments Between Ledges and Frets《彈指品相間》(2024)  for pipa solo and Chinese orchestra [~10'] ＊ commissioned by Chuang Hsueh Man to arrange 莊雪曼委編

Rhapsodies of Latin America - Pipa Concerto for Chinese Orchestra《拉丁美洲狂想琵琶協奏曲》(2019-2020) for pipa and Chinese Orchestra [~33']

Chen Siang 陈思昂:

​Sunrise Through Dispersing Clouds 云开日出 : Concerto for Pipa

Gu Guoren 顧冠仁:

Lady Hua Mulan 花木蘭 Concerto for Pipa

(five concerti in total)

Ng Cheuk-Yin 伍卓賢:

"Tang Resonating" 《唐響》Concerto for Pipa

Wang Danhong 王丹紅:

Clouds and Flowers Fantasia 《雲想．花想》Concerto for Pipa

Wang Zhao Jun 王昭君: 

Concerto for Pipa

Zhao, Cong 赵聪:

"Flying Fairies of the Silk Road" 丝路飞天: Concerto for Pipa (2014), commissioned by The China National Traditional Orchestra

Zhao, Jiping 趙季平:

Pipa Concerto No. 2,  for Wu ManWorld premiered by Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Sydney Opera House, Oct, 2013, co-commissioned by Sydney Symphony Orchestra, NCPA and other US orchestras

Zhang Zhao 张朝 :

Song of Heaven and Earth 天地歌: Concerto for Pipa

For Larger Ensemble

Gao Hong 高红 : 

Musical Journey for Pipa with Wind Band – Completed 2026. Commissioned by the University of Texas Wind Ensemble and Maestro Jerry Junkin. Premiered by the University of Texas Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jerry Junkin with Gao Hong as Pipa soloist at the University of Texas at Austin on February 11, 2026