Opening Concert of the Year of the Pig

16 February, 6 p.m. Ammende Villa, Pärnu
17 February, 6.14 p.m. Ministry of Education and Research
Ceremonial Hall, Tartu
18 February, 6 p.m. Kadrioru Palace, Tallinn

Music from the Time of Marco Polo
Concerts are dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Pent Nurmekund

John Thompson (USA) - guqin

FA Schola Ensemble
Raho Langsepp - bamboo flute, dongxiao, xun
Lilian Langsepp - guzheng, gooti harf
Helena Uleksin - bamboo flute

Poetry of Pent Nurmekund rendered by Lembit Eelmäe.

This program consists of music Marco Polo (1254-1324) could have heard in late 13th century Hangzhou, China, if indeed he went there; and music played in early 14th century Italy, after he says he returned home. John Thompson plays the Chinese music on the guqin silk string zither from tablature published in 1425 CE, but clearly copied from earlier sources. The Estonian early music group FA Schola plays the Italian music on flutes and harp and Chinese Music on Chinese bamboo flutes dongxiao, xun and Chinese zither guzheng.