The Piano Guys Release New Music Video "Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends" Filmed On The Great Wall of China

Known For Their Innovative Self-Made YouTube Videos, The Piano Guys Have Amassed Over 276 Million Views

New holiday album - A Family Christmas - Available October 22

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Oct 15, 2013, 01:59 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Utah's favorite dads, The Piano Guys, release their latest self-made music video "Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends." Fulfilling a long time dream, The Piano Guys received unprecedented special permission from the Chinese government to film their new video on The Great Wall of China. Check out the video here.

With just 12 hours to film the music video, the goal was to capture the magnificence of the Great Wall. This was no small feat, especially when you add in challenges like lighting, limited equipment and crew, onlookers climbing the walls and its sheer length of 5000 miles long. Getting the piano onto the Great Wall was also a harrowing experience in itself. Over 60 locals had to hoist the Grand Piano atop using their bare hands! See it here.

When The Piano Guys found out they were granted a permit to film on the Wall, they immediately went on a search for the right song. Since they're big fans of the Kung Fu Panda movies, they decided to incorporate "Oogway Ascends" from the film soundtrack. Using his custom electric cello, Steven Sharp Nelson was inspired to emulate the sound of the Ehru, a Chinese fiddle, and the Guqin, the Chinese plucked instrument.

In order for the song to feel complete, The Piano Guys found a way to blend their pop sound with their signature classical sensibility for which they have become so well known.

With over 30 million piano students in China, the great Polish pianist/composer Frederic Chopin seemed like the right fit for the classical influence in the song. Of the musical choice Sharp Nelson says, "We had been working on an arrangement of his 'Prelude No. 20' and it fit the theme and the vibe of 'Oogway Ascends' perfectly. At the height of the song, we wanted a bridge that sounded like a Kung Fu battle. Once the concept had been solidified, 'Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends' seemed to write itself."

The Piano Guys started making music videos together for fun and their "hobby" turned into a worldwide phenomenon when their self-made YouTube videos amassed millions and millions of views (over 276 million to date). With the success of The Piano Guys' first two major label releases, The Piano Guys and The Piano Guys 2, Portrait/Sony Masterworks will release the Utah-based classical-pop group's new holiday album, A Family Christmas on October 22. Just in time for the holiday season, A Family Christmas will also be available as a deluxe set that includes a bonus DVD of their hit holiday music videos, plus a classic Yule Log video featuring all of the songs on the album. Produced by the group's Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, Al Van der Beek and Paul Anderson, A Family Christmas puts The Piano Guys' signature twist to such Christmas classics as "Silent Night," "Good King Wenceslas," and "Angels We Have Heard On High."

For more information on The Piano Guys and tour dates visit www.ThePianoGuys.com.

www.ThePianoGuys.com * YouTube.com/user/ThePianoGuys * Facebook.com/PianoGuys * Twitter: @PianoGuys

Sony Masterworks comprises the Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait, Masterworks Broadway and Flying Buddha imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.SonyMasterworks.com.

SOURCE Sony Masterworks