Music Talks

Michael Tan Chen is a celebrated American Chinese pianist and composer. He learnt playing the piano at age four and composed his first piece at 11. In 1990, 14-year-old Tan went to the US and studied at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Later, Tan studied piano and composition at the renowned Julliard School of Music.

Last week, Tony Reid had the pleasure meeting Tan Chen at his home in Beijing. Today, let's hear his story and enjoy some of his compositions from the Book of Songs, the oldest existing collection of ancient Chinese poetry.

Song Lists:

1. Intro: 淇奥 River inlet of Qi, women's choir and piano

2. 子衿 Blue is your collar, for mixed choir a cappella

3. 关雎 The Crying Osprays, for mixed choir a cappella

4. 黍离 Millet Grows, for Men's choir and piano

5. 淇奥 River inlet of Qi, women's choir and piano

Lyrics from 'Book of Songs', composed by Tan Chen, and sung by Madrigal Choir 中德牧歌合唱团

Previously, we’ve introduced an eastern version of the guitar, called the ruan, which shares a similar tonality, appearance and playing techniques.

Today, we have Ms Zhao Yue with us, a ruan performer from the top orchestra in the nation, the China National Traditional Orchestra.

She brings us several representative pieces of the genre and hopes that our listeners are able to explore the enchantment of the instrument.

Song lists:

1. Fantasy, 异想天开, performed by Zhao Yue and Wei Yuru

2. A Chill Breeze through the Pines, 松风寒, performed by Wei Yuru

3. Asturias, 阿斯图里亚斯的传奇, performed by Zhao Yue, Feng Mantian and Zhang Yanqiu, conductor: He Jianguo

4. BGM: Snow Goose Flying to the South, 雪雁南飞, performed by Wei Yuru

Autumn is coming. After months of scorching heat and muggy humidity, the sky appears higher; the air becomes lighter and drier. Leaves start to turn red and yellow, making our surroundings incredibly colourful. It is a season that inspires musicians to compose and poets to write. Today, let's hear songs reflecting this beautiful season.

Song Lists:

1. BGM: Sight-Lady YingLuo 见-璎珞姑娘, konghou by Wu Lin

2. White Dew 白露, lyrics by Li Bai, composed by Lao Luo, vocal by Gong Linna

3. Autumnal Equinox 秋分, lyrics by Liu Yuxi, composed by Lao Luo, sang by Gong Linna

4. Autumn Leaves 秋叶, by He Xige

5. Falling Leaves 落木, by Zhao Ze band

6. Autumn Hope 秋望, composed by Wang Zhongshan, guzheng by Zhang Lu

In this episode, we continue with Ms Cai Ziyue, a pipa instrumentalist with the China National Traditional Orchestra, who brings us several pipa renditions of theme songs from popular TV series in recent years, hoping to boost the popularity of the instrument.

Song lists:

1. BGM: Romantic Longings, 相思

2. Have You Ever Known, 知否 知否

3. The Sound of Falling Snow, 雪落下的声音

4. Bracing the Chill, 凉凉

5. Pointing at the Moon, 左手指月

6. The Smile of Peach Blossoms, 桃花笑

7. Time Flies, 红颜旧

The 'Black Duck' trio黑鸭子组合, known by the public since the 1990s, is one of China's earliest and most famous female singing groups. Last time, we have enjoyed some of their original songs. Today, we continue to join the trio to listen in on several cover versions of some of the most popular songs over the decades.

SONG LISTS:

1. intro: Happiness is like a flower 幸福就像花儿一样

2. Farewell 送别, composed by John Pond Ordway, lyrics by Li Shutong

3. Ural Rowan Tree 山楂树

4. The Price of Love 爱的代价, written by Jonathan Lee Chung-shan

5. A Glass of Wine 一杯美酒

6. The Same Song 同一首歌, composed by Meng Weidong, lyrics by Chen Zhe

In this episode, Ms Cai Ziyue, a pipa instrumentalist from the top orchestra in the nation—the China National Traditional Orchestra, will introduce four pipa songs. Each one represents a certain period of time in history, from ancient times, through the twentieth century, and finally to the present. Let’s embark with her on a special journey to explore this exquisite instrument.

Song lists:

1. BMG: Lake Baikal, 贝加尔湖畔, composed by Li Jian

2. King Chu Dropped His Armor, 霸王卸甲, rearranged by Li Tingsong

3. Tonight, 虚籁, composed by Liu Tianhua

4. The Tale of Farewell, 水寒谣, composed by He Xie

5. Invitation to the Moon, 邀月, composed by Quan Yan

The 'Black Duck' group has been one of China's earliest and most famous female singing groups. In this episode, we join Ms Guo Qi and the 'Black Duck' trio to witness their beautiful & harmonic voices.

Song Lists:

1. BGM: Waverider 踏浪, composed by Gu Yue, Lyrics by Zhuang Nu

2. My Motherland and I 我和我的祖国, composed by Qin Yongcheng, lyrics by Zhang Li

3. Good People Good Dream 好人好梦, composed by Song Shuhua, lyrics by Fan Xiaobin

4. Taste of Home 家的味道, composed by Qi Jianbo, lyrics by Liu Bojun

5. Song of the Wanderer 游子吟, composed by Du Xingcheng, lyrics by Meng Jiao

6. Early Summer Wind 初夏的风 纷飞的梦, composed by Wu Huanbin, lyrics by Peng Xiaoni

Previously, we’ve introduced the famed wind and percussion ensemble, the Zhou Family Band, which has over one hundred members, all surnamed Zhou.

You probably already have some insight into their evolving musical style after exploring the band’s traditional and modern songs.

Today, our guest on the show is the fifth-generation leader of the band, Mr Zhou Benming, who brings us some of their recently released works, included in the album titled “Awakening”.

Mr Zhou has been pivotal in making a breakthrough in the genre to a larger audience. This album is one of his big endeavors.

Song lists:

1. A-ha, 啊哈

2. Zhou’s Grand Musical Show, 大周奉乐

3. Protecting, 守望

4. Nice to Meet You, 喜见

5. Long History, 长河

6. Journey, 征尘

Falling on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, the Qixi Festival, or the Double Seventh Festival, is celebrated here as China's Valentine's Day. And this year, it falls on August 25th. Like many other festivals, this one also has a story connected to it. It is "The story of the Herdsman and Weaver Girl". Today, let's hear the story and enjoy some Chinese love songs for this eastern Valentine's Day.

SONG LISTS:

1. BGM: Painted Skin 画皮, erhu by Jin Yue, Xiao by Ding Xiaokui

2. By the Waterside 在水一方, performed by China National Traditional Orchestra

3. Bury the Heart 葬心, composed by Wang Bei, performed by Huang Wangting/Zeng Cheng/Guan Zhengyue

4. Butterfly Lovers 梁祝, performed by CNTO

5. Sight 见, konghou by Wu Lin

6. Flowing Creek 小河淌水, sang by Gong Linna

In this episode, we introduce a renowned wind and percussion ensemble, called the Zhou Family Band, a national cultural inheritor of the genre.

With over six hundred years of history, their music is traditionally performed on several occasions, such as weddings, funerals, child births and birthdays.

Nowadays, the folk band is looking to revive their traditional essence by infusing components of world music.

Today, we have the producer of this ancient group Ms Ma Rong.

She brings us several songs from the Zhou Family Band that are typically heard in pairs.

Hopefully, you can discover the development of the music genre by comparison.

Song lists:

1. Eternal Prosperity, 梵字调•万年红

2. Awakening, 觉醒

3. Battle between Bands, 十样锦•对棚

4. Musical Battle, 斗乐

5. Newborn Celebration, 庆贺令•新生

6. Lingering, 遥

7. Fruit of the Spirit, 灵果