Alfred University News

International musical trio conducts workshop for students, concert for university

When The Trio from Three Continents visited Alfred University April 4 for an evening concert at Miller Theater, the musicians also met with numerous students for a workshop involving the musical instruments used in their performance.


 When The Trio from Three Continents visited Alfred University April 4 for an evening concert at Miller Theater, the musicians also met with numerous students for a workshop involving the musical instruments used in their performance.

Students studying with Heidi Jensen, Alfred University Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, had the chance to experience the sounds of the Chinese Pipa, the Arabic Oud, and the Venezuelan Harp up close and personal, as demonstrated by the visiting musicians, while also experimenting with microphone placement, and various recording techniques.

The students practiced their recording skills also with Jason Mullen, Adjunct Instructor of Music.

The Trio of Three Continents features master musicians from China, Syria and Venezuela. Pipa virtuoso Gao Hong is joined by Syrian oud master Issam Rafea and Venezuelan harpist extraordinaire Leonard Jacome.

In their performances they each play music from their cultures, demonstrate their instruments, join to together in free improvisations, and ad-lib live compositions that result in one-of-a-kind fusions. Their music is not Chinese, Syrian or Venezuelan, but a new form of world music that melds styles and sensibilities from three continents.