chinese a cappella
chinese a cappella is a unique mix of east and west - the American collegiate a cappella / vocal band trend of the 1990s, breaking away from traditional barbershop/choral arrangements to more popular tunes and the use of the voice to imitate guitars, drums, you name it - and the vast body of chinese popular music.
i have 8 years of experience arranging for chinese a cappella, chiefly as former music director of the first collegiate chinese a cappella group in the US, UPenn's PennYo(朋友), and co-founder of the first(?) collegiate a cappella group in China (2006), Peking University's Sing Song (新声).
together with Douglas Tham of Emergency Studios, i've helped to arrange, mix, master and produce 3 CDs that have pioneered the rise of chinese a cappella in the USA.
Emergence, 无中生友(2005) (review, iTunes, Amazon)
Luminar, 发光(2008) (review, iTunes, Amazon)
Extra Spicy, 超辣(2010) (review, iTunes, Amazon)
my arrangements have been used by PennYo, Sing Song, Harvard's C-Sharp, Beijing Technical University, Taipei American School Singers, Duke's TemptAsians, Shanghai's Findavox, Singapore Acappella Society, Davis Chamber Choir, the US Consulate in China and several Chinese universities, and won prizes in 新谣再飞歌唱比赛2010, 北大十佳歌手比赛 2009. there's always fun in sharing, and room to improve, and i'm happy for people to borrow my arrangements and modify them to their heart's content, subject to the following:
i have 8 years of experience arranging for chinese a cappella, chiefly as former music director of the first collegiate chinese a cappella group in the US, UPenn's PennYo(朋友), and co-founder of the first(?) collegiate a cappella group in China (2006), Peking University's Sing Song (新声).
together with Douglas Tham of Emergency Studios, i've helped to arrange, mix, master and produce 3 CDs that have pioneered the rise of chinese a cappella in the USA.
Emergence, 无中生友(2005) (review, iTunes, Amazon)
Luminar, 发光(2008) (review, iTunes, Amazon)
Extra Spicy, 超辣(2010) (review, iTunes, Amazon)
my arrangements have been used by PennYo, Sing Song, Harvard's C-Sharp, Beijing Technical University, Taipei American School Singers, Duke's TemptAsians, Shanghai's Findavox, Singapore Acappella Society, Davis Chamber Choir, the US Consulate in China and several Chinese universities, and won prizes in 新谣再飞歌唱比赛2010, 北大十佳歌手比赛 2009. there's always fun in sharing, and room to improve, and i'm happy for people to borrow my arrangements and modify them to their heart's content, subject to the following:
arrangement policy
i am happy to share any of my 50+ arrangements for chinese a cappella free of charge, if performers:
1. just ask (!) email me at joshua dot ip dot man at gmail.com
2 .acknowledge the original performers (usually PennYo).
3. acknowledge me.
despite all of these arrangements being covers, anybody who arranges music will know that there is a significant element of time invested - it is a tedious process (!) - and a lot of originality, creativity and individuality in each of them. it really cheeses me off to have someone rip off my arrangement (believe me, it can be pretty obvious) without so much as a say-so, especially when they do it poorly. i will GIVE you the arrangement. just ask!!
i also have a standard "chinese a cappella group setup package" of arrangements, documents, software, and some lessons on how to arrange available on request.
1. just ask (!) email me at joshua dot ip dot man at gmail.com
2 .acknowledge the original performers (usually PennYo).
3. acknowledge me.
despite all of these arrangements being covers, anybody who arranges music will know that there is a significant element of time invested - it is a tedious process (!) - and a lot of originality, creativity and individuality in each of them. it really cheeses me off to have someone rip off my arrangement (believe me, it can be pretty obvious) without so much as a say-so, especially when they do it poorly. i will GIVE you the arrangement. just ask!!
i also have a standard "chinese a cappella group setup package" of arrangements, documents, software, and some lessons on how to arrange available on request.
arrangements available
all arrangements are in .wrk format for Cakewalk Pro Audio. if you don't have Cakewalk, contact me and we can discuss alternatives (conversion to .mid, where to find Cakewalk etc). they are usually arranged for 6 parts (SAATTB), not including solo and vocal percussion.
the list is chronological by arranging date, so the later arrangements are generally better - from my biased point of view.
video links of PennYo performing are available for some. i'd recommend the following two "MTV-quality" videos - Jian Dan Ai and Tao Wang.
the list is chronological by arranging date, so the later arrangements are generally better - from my biased point of view.
video links of PennYo performing are available for some. i'd recommend the following two "MTV-quality" videos - Jian Dan Ai and Tao Wang.
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Re Dai Yu Lin, S.H.E.
Xie Yi Shou Ge, Shunza Ye Tai Hei, Sandy Lam* Ai Bia Jia Eh Ngia, Ye Qitian* Bu Yuan Yi Ge Ren, Emil Chau (with Douglas Tham) Xi Huan Ni, Kit Chan Xue Ren, Mavis Fan (with Soon Weilun) Sheng Dan Jie, Eason Chan Men, Faye Wong Hua Xin, Emil Chau (arrangement inspired by TRY-TONE) Sun Zi Bing Fa, David Tao Jie Tuo, Zhang Hui Mei Niu Yue De Si Ji Jia Zhe Bei Jing De Meng, Jacky Cheung Feng Zheng, Stefanie Sun Ni Bu Zai, Wang Lee-Hom Shi Qu, Tong En** Huo Guang, Shi Kang Jun** Hao Ren, Justin From This Moment, Shania Twain Hong Dou, Faye Wong** Lian Ai Ping Lv, Andy Hui / Evonne Hsu Jian Dan Ai / Truly Madly Deeply, Jay Chou / Savage Garden** Hua Tian Cuo, Wang Lee-Hom Jay Chou Jay Chou (Medley), Jay Chou Sha Tan, David Tao** Jia Zhuang, Jolin Tsai Tao Wang, Stefanie Sun** |
Ai De Zheng Hao / Something There That Wasn't There Before, William So / Kit Chan / Beauty and the Beast***
Rong Shu Xia / Ye Lai Xiang, Traditional / David Tao Ben Xiao Hai, Andy Lau et al (with Kathy Chen)** Ting Hai, Zhang Hui Mei** Wen Rou, Mayday (with Liu Weibin) Ju Hua Tai, Jay Chou*** Yi Yang De Xiang Tian, Stefanie Sun 831 8, J*** Yuan Dian, Stefanie Sun / Tanya Chua Qing Fei De Yi, Harlem Yu Nv Ren Shuo, Zhang Hui Mei Dong Shi, Stefanie Sun (with Kathy Chen) Ai De Jiu Shi Ni, Wang Lee-Hom (with Douglas Tham)*** Zhen Shi, Zhang Hui Mei*** An Quan Gan, Wang Lee-Hom*** Xin Bu Liao Qing / Bu Liao Qing, Wan Fang / Teresa Teng*** Yuan Lai Ni Shen Me Dou Bu Xiang Yao, Zhang Hui Mei (happy remix)*** Ji De, Zhang Hui Mei*** Tong Lei, Stefanie Sun*** An Lian, David Tao† Ai Ai Ai, Fang Da Tong† Nobody Nobody, Wonder Girls Shan Hu Hai, Jay Chou / Lara (with Teresa Wu)†† Si Ren You, Fang Da Tong (with Teresa Wu)†† Zhong Xiao Dong Lu Zou Jiu Bian (with Stanley Kurnia) Hei Se You Mo, Jay Chou†† (studio) Ru Guo Ai / Sunday Morning, Fang Da Tong / Maroon 5† Ling Wu, Xin Xiao Qi Ji Pa Ban / Billionaire, Huang Yi Fei / Bruno Mars |
*Recorded on Emergence, 无中生友(2005) by PennYo and Emergency Studios (Youtube)
**Recorded on Luminar, 发光(2008) by PennYo and Emergency Studios (Youtube)
***Recorded on Extra Spicy, 超辣(2010) by PennYo and Emergency Studios (sadly purged off Spotify?)
†Recorded but lost on some hard drive (?)
††Recorded on Generations, Y 世代 (2016) by PennYo
**Recorded on Luminar, 发光(2008) by PennYo and Emergency Studios (Youtube)
***Recorded on Extra Spicy, 超辣(2010) by PennYo and Emergency Studios (sadly purged off Spotify?)
†Recorded but lost on some hard drive (?)
††Recorded on Generations, Y 世代 (2016) by PennYo