NEW YORK—As the finger plucks the string, something wonderful happens—like a note arriving from heaven. As unique and wonderful as the harp is, a skilled player is even more so.
A quiet treasure beneath the stage, Ms. Shao Yi Deng last year brought the lyrical sounds of the harp to audiences as part of the orchestra for the Chinese New Year Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
Growing up in China among a family of musicians, Ms. Deng said it seemed only natural that she too would learn to play an instrument.
"I liked dancing and singing when I was young, so my uncle asked me if I wanted to learn music."
When she attended a concert with her family and saw a harp on stage, Ms. Deng decided that was the instrument she wanted to learn.
After studying with some of the best teachers in China, Ms. Deng went on to win numerous awards for her outstanding performances. She also recorded soundtracks to more than a hundred movies and television shows as part of the Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) Motion Picture Production Company Orchestra in Guangzhou, China. As a full-time member of the orchestra for over 17 years, she performed European classical music in concerts and also recorded music for Chinese movies.
Her experience with both European and Chinese music paved the way for her participation in the Divine Performing Arts Orchestra, based in New York. Having traveled to cities across the United States and in Canada, the orchestra accompanies dancers on stage, giving life to depictions of the diverse cultural regions of China and rich spiritual traditions from China's 5,000-year history.
According to Ms. Deng, Chinese classical dance is a comprehensive system that combines mind and body to depict an endless range of emotions, characters, or stories. The orchestra aims to express the inner qualities of the dancers, to give voice to the characteristics embodied in the dancers' movements and provide another dimension of artistic expression to the performances. Ms. Deng's unique combination of skills proved to be the perfect fit for the orchestra, as the orchestra combines Western instruments and arrangements with Chinese instruments and melodies to convey the richness of traditional Chinese culture through the performing arts.
"When the Chinese and European instruments mix, it gives a different feeling."
An understanding of Chinese music and culture along with her training and experience with European music allow her to bring out the necessary qualities for the dancers. She understands how the Chinese and European instruments can combine for the best effect to bring out the particular flavors of the Chinese music, and the intricacies of the characteristic rhythms and melodies.
"I very much enjoy playing in this orchestra. I can play music to express the inner feelings for the dancers, to tell a story. The meaning of the songs is very special—they're expressing the inner qualities of ancient Chinese culture."
Traditional Chinese culture placed an emphasis on virtue, refining one's being, and harmonious relationship between heaven, earth, and human beings.
Although she holds the harp in her hands, she said she feels fortunate to "…use my heart to create music for the dancers. I just want to bring beautiful music and performances to people."
Ms. Deng can be heard in New York City in the show Holiday Wonders this December and the Chinese New Year Spectacular starting in January.
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