Paper, normally a utilitarian material, becomes a solo instrument in
Tan Dun’s ingenious and inventive Paper Concerto, fusing orchestral
music and organic sounds to create accessible, even melodious, music
that is almost beyond imagination. Intriguing sounds are created by all
manner of different papers, so that they appear elemental rather than
simplistic, tapping into something basic in the fabric of our lives. In a
remarkable and unforgettable concert experience, Tan Dun directs the
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and soloist Haruka Fujii in a
vivid demonstration of his belief that orchestral music, far from being
static and traditional, still has the capacity for experimentation and the
power to stimulate in extraordinary ways.

‘Musically tightened, the non-narrative concerto has become a magical
ceremony…Paper Concerto makes a fine companion piece to his Water
Concerto.’ Los Angeles Times

‘We are surrounded by paper in our lives: our imaginations are
captured and recorded in words or pictures, as we express newly
discovered feelings about ourselves and the world around us. For a
long time, I have been developing the idea of organic music, which
embodies sounds of nature, water, paper, ceramics, and the mind.
The environment is related to our lives, and spiritually, everything
germinates from one seed of creativity.’ Tan Dun

Paper Percussionists:
Haruka Fujii (Solo)
Rika Fujii
Tamao Inano

Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Tan Dun

Bonus material:
Short Film - Paper: The Song of Nature
Tan Dun Demonstrates Paper Music *
Tan Dun Teaches Paper Instruments *
Recorded live at the Stockholm International Composer’s
Festival, Stockholm Concert Hall on 8th November 2007.