A Little Tea Music

The erhu, or Chinese violin, is a strange and ancient-looking instrument, with two strings along a long, narrow neck attached to a sextagonal sound box covered in snakeskin. It’s played with a horsehair bow that slides between the strings, and, like the Western violin, is a squeaky-squawky mess in the hands of a novice. In the hands of an expert, however, it can make sounds you wouldn’t think possible from something so simple and primitive-looking. And what in the world could be more Chinese than that?

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More About

• Mike Fitzmaurice
• Brian Mullins
• Huang Zhi

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Area musicians Brian Mullins and Mike Fitzmaurice aren’t Chinese, but they know a thing or two about taking a bow. And together they are Erhoopla, an erhu duo that plays music both traditional and not-so. The talented twosome will perform a variety of tunes, including some jazz and original compositions, at 7 p.m. tonight in the calm and collected confines of the Seven Cups tea room, 1882 South Pearl Street, where you can appreciate erhu over a cup of Huang Zhi Xiang Dan Cong Oolong or Little Rose Puer Black Tuo Cha. Mmmmm. Contemplative.

Admission is free; get info at www.sevencupsdenver.com or call 303-777-2877.
Wed., Jan. 20, 7 p.m., 2010