Silk Road Diaries

About the Artist

In their musical encounter, musicians Ran Wang (guzheng) and Annette Bauer (sarod, recorders, duduk, pipe and tabor) traverse the silk road from East to West. Their journey invites the audience along a geographical route from China via India to Italy. Together, they weave through different historical time periods by presenting music from the ancient Han dynasty (200BC-9AD) to music from the emerging European 15th century Renaissance.  

The program equally imagines and draws inspirations from different physical and emotional landscapes that might be encountered by a timeless traveler – from witnessing a deeply moving beauty in unfamiliar landscapes, to adventurously daring to set out on a long journey, to the loneliness that a traveler can experience far away from home. Above all, their musical journey is a conversation between the sounds of their instruments, and the manifold vibrations of their strings, giving room for improvisations, and an exploration of the unknown. 

Artist's Programs

Curriculum Links

Music: Students explore timbre, melody, rhythm, and improvisation through live performance on traditional instruments such as the guzheng, sarod, recorder, and duduk. The program supports learning about world music, musical form, and cultural context—highlighting how music reflects place, history, and identity. It also encourages active listening, comparison of musical styles across regions, and understanding how musical traditions evolve through cultural exchange along the Silk Road. Social Studies / History: Connects to the history of the Silk Road, cultural interactions, and the exchange of ideas, technologies, and artistic practices between civilizations. Geography: Helps students identify regions, landforms, and cultural pathways from East Asia to Europe, tracing the journey of music and people. Global Competencies / Character Education: Promotes intercultural understanding, empathy, and appreciation of global artistic traditions.

Artistic Disciplines

Music

Diversity

Asian, Culturally Diverse, Francophone, Person of Colour, Women+

Age

All ages, Children ages 5 - 11, Children ages 12 - 18, Seniors, Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12

Language Proficiency

English, French