I Ching - Of The Marsh And The Moon (1996/2003) [SACD]

Take three Chinese musicians schooled in the ancient art of traditional music making. A tradition that evokes images of romance and mystery. Add the futuristic, yet always musical sound of a synthesizer and apply state-of-the-art Chesky sonic technology. The result? I Ching: Of The Marsh and The Moon. This instrumental recording offers melodies that are at times distressingly beautiful, rhythmically driving and lushly melodic. Featuring Sisi Chen playing the Yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer), Tao Chen on Chinese flute and Bao Li on Erhu (two stringed Chinese fiddle) with the synthesizer of Joel Goodman, this is World music meeting New Age. This is I Ching.
This album takes the listener far away, in time as well as space. You feel as though you’ve been transported to China. Several of the tracks are based on traditional Chinese or Mongolian folksongs The combination of traditional instruments and a synthesizer is surprisingly good. The album was recorded in St. Peter’s Church in New York City, which provides the acoustics for the “natural surround sound”… and it’s wonderful!