November 2020
WU MAN, PIPA VIRTUOSO, AND MAILE OKAMURA, DANCER, SHOT A PERFORMANCE FILM ENTITLED BITS AND PIECES, INSPIRED BY LOU HARRISON’S CONCERTO FOR PIPA, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR WU MAN IN 1997. TAPED IN PART AT THE HARRISON HOUSE, COMMISSIONED BY THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM’S DEPARTMENT OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, AS A COLLABORATION THAT INCLUDED ART OF ELAN AND NY-BASED ORCHESTRA THE KNIGHTS.
Wu Man is a Chinese pipa player and composer known for her broad range of musical styles that has introduced her heritage into Western genres. She has premiered works by Philip Glass, Lou Harrison, Terry Riley, Tan Dun, among many others. Wu Man has recorded and appeared on over 40 albums, five of which have been nominated for Grammy Awards. Maile Okamura has been dancing with Mark Morris Dance Group since 1998, while leading a double life as a costume designer having created both dance and opera costumes for Atlanta Ballet, Tanglewood Music Festival, American Classical Orchestra, Bard College, Middlebury College, and Mark Morris Dance Group.