EP 625: Wu Man On Breaking Traditional Musical Boundaries with the Chinese Lute

For decades, traditional Chinese instruments like the pipa, erhu, and guzheng felt "too foreign" to Ken as he navigated the pressure to be accepted as a "true-blue American". Now at 71, embracing non-Western music has opened up an entirely new world—making a last-minute invitation to interview Wu Man an opportunity he couldn't pass up. Recognized globally as a master of the traditional Chinese lute, Wu Man shares her remarkable artistic journey, the rich heritage of the pipa, and how she continues to bridge cultures and musical genres. Catch Wu Man Live in Los Angeles: November 19: Performing Mason Bates' Concerto for Pipa at The Colburn School's Zipper Hall (tickets available via the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra website). November 22: Performing at The Wallis.