PCM: Can you explain what is meant by Pudong School of pipa playing?

Wu Man: Well Pudong is actually a style of playing. Pudong is in the Shanghai area.

In ancient times we had five different schools of pipa playing. Pudong is one of them, Because my teacher at Beijing Central Conservatory is from that area I studied this specific style.

PCM: You are from the south?

Wu Man: Yes I am from Hangzhu it is two hours south of Shanghai.

PCM: You came in 1990?

Wu Man: Yes.

PCM: Did you record in China?

Wu Man: Yes, in 1989 I recorded with China Records It was recorded as a record. I’ve heard it was made into a CD. I haven’t seen it yet.

PCM: Why did you come to America?

Wu Man: Actually that is very simple. In the early eighties the Chinese government finally opened the door to the west. Before that we basically didn’t know anything outside of China. So the early eighties the government finally opened the doors, so many students went out to study, at the same time a lot of westerners came to China: musicians, symphony orchestra’s, scientists politicians. There was a big wave of the younger generation going to study outside of China. Of course the conservatory music students that went off said everything was fine so I decided I want to see what the music life is like in the west. That is why I decided to come.

PCM: Do you think you would make the music you make now if you were in China?

Wu Man: No actually when I was in China I got my degree’s, my masters and I got offers to become a faculty member at the conservatory at a very young age and I won 1^st place in the nationals for instrumental.  Everything was very smooth and top line, very smooth I was fortunate. And I didn’t expect, I didn’t know if I left China if I’d make it as a musician here. All my school mates here have switched their careers. They’re not musicians anymore. I said to a friend, maybe I should study computers.

PCM: Been there.

(Laughter)

PCM: Did you study computers?

Wu Man: I did not.

(laughter)

PCM: So you have a lot of friends from school here?

WU Man: From Beijing? Yes, I have a lot of composer friends here, they are very established, I think this is a very good time for Chinese artists.

PCM: Did you have to learn to read in western notation when you came here?

Wu Man: I already knew it from the conservatory. They taught us both, plus we had to study the piano.

PCM: What other instruments do you play.

Wu Man: I play the Ruan(moon guitar) Yueqin(small pipa) Zheng(Chinese zither)

PCM: Did you ever attempt the Erhu?

Wu Man: No, I stay with plucked strings like you.

(laughter)

PCM: Do you write your music in Chinese notation or western?

Wu Man: It depends on what I am writing for. If it is a traditional piece I write in Chinese notation if it is a contemporary piece I write in western.

PCM: Did you work with any of the groups in New York when you came?.

Wu Man: I worked with Music from China.

PCM: Really? That’s is where I study.

Wu Man: Oh Is it? When I first came, my friend the composer Tan Dun told me to go over. We practiced all week and then on the weekends we would perform. It was very interesting.

Wu Man: When did you study there?

PCM: I started in 2001

Wu Man: I left in 1995.