Music Talks

Pei Changjia is a soloist with the China National Traditional Orchestra. Today, we hear songs from her album 'A Hearty Taste of Tea'(茶心). Each song in this album, named after a Chinese tea, is an independent story of love, from an eastern female's perspective. Let's join Ms. Pei as she tells us the stories behind her herbal journey.

1. BGM: On Lapsang Souchong Tea: To My Love, 正山情种, composed by: Pei Changjia, Lyrics: Bai Jinming

2. On Silver Needle Tea 白毫银针, composed by: Ma Jiuyue, Lyrics: Bai Jinming

3. Pu'er Tea 普洱茶珍, composed by: Ma Jiuyue, Lyrics: Bai Jinming

4. Jasmine Tea 茉莉香片, composed by: Ma Jiuyue, Lyrics: Penny

5. Phoenix Oolong Tea 凤凰单丛, composed by: Ma Jiuyue, Lyrics: Bai Jinming

Dong Xiaolin is a principle pipa performer with the China National Traditional Orchestra. Her music has the enchantment that can take listeners throughout time and history to the Tang Dynasty and the ancient poetry of that era.

Today, Ms Dong brings us a couple of her renowned pieces and a masterpiece from the late influential pipa master Liu Dehai, which features a unique musical style from southern China’s Guangdong Province.

Let’s see where you go in these melodies.

Song lists:

1. Flowers and Clouds, 云想•花想

2. A Moonlit Night on the Spring River, 春江花月夜

3. Lady Liuqing, 柳青娘

Musical composers often produce various styles of works. Some are fascinated with integrating the most prevalent elements of their time. Others specialize in taking listeners from place to place through the music.

Today, we have Zhang Xuguang, a composer and huqin performer with the Central Broadcasting Traditional Instruments Orchestra, bringing us several compositions of his guqin and banhu music.

Mr Zhang attempts to make each of his musical works pleasing to the ear and have the ability to entertain people, and hopes listeners of all ages can feel the beauty and charm of Chinese traditional instruments through his music.

Let's get up-close with his compositions and see what he has in store for us.

Song lists:

1. Flowing Water, 流水

2. The Harmony of Sky and Earth, 天地同和

3. Soaring, 翱翔

4. Newer Rendition of Deep in the Night, 新编夜深沉

5. The Grand Mansion's Gate, 大宅门

6. Song of Autumn, 长安意象•秋歌

Previously, we enjoyed some of Wang Bei's musical works for the Chinese television series, The Legend of Mi Yue, and his compositions for the documentary, 'Aerial China'. From traditional Chinese Orchestral pieces to contemporary film & television score music, Wang Bei is one of the most active and talented composers in the Chinese music scene. Today, we select several from his works and have the pleasure of having the composer disclose his inspirations and thoughts behind these classic pieces.

Song Lists:

1. The Great Love 天之大, composed by Wang Bei, lyrics by Chen Tao, sung by Mao Amin

2. Fireworks 满城烟花, composed by Wang Bei, lyrics by Chen Tao, sung by Mao Amin & Zhang Jie

3. The Waters and Mountains of Guizhou 山水贵客, composed by Wang Bei, lyrics by Chen Tao, sung by Han Hong

4. Legacy 遗爱, composed & sung by Wang Bei, lyrics by Chen Tao

5. Flowery March 烟花三月, composed by Wang Bei

6. Buffalo 水牛儿, composed & sung by Wang Bei, lyrics by Gao Chang

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the 5th day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

Legend has it that the festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, the poet and minister of the ancient state of Chu during the Warring States period. When the king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful state of Qin, Qu was banished for opposing the alliance and even accused of treason. Years after his exile, at hearing the news of the downfall of his state's capital, Qu drowned himself in the Miluo River...

Song Lists:

1. BGM: East Wind Breaks 东风破, composed by Jay Chou, guzheng by Zhang Lu

2. Going Up And Down To Seek My Heart's Desire 上下求索, composed by Lao Luo, vocal by Gong Linna

3. A Limited-Master of Destinies 九歌/少司命, composed by Wang Bei, performed by Asia Philharmonic Orchestra

4. Mi Luo River Fantasia 汨罗江幻想曲, composed by Li Huanzhi, performed by China National Traditional Orchestra

5. Fishermen's Triumph 渔舟凯歌, by Zhu Jianping

The hulusi is a free reed wind instrument, originated in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, gaining its popularity among a number of ethnic-minority groups, particularly the Dai people.

Many say the ancient gourd-shaped instrument is often used to show affection between people who are in love and convey happiness when having a good harvest.

It is famous for its unique and exquisite sound quality.

Today, we have Mr He Weiqing, the chairman of the Hulusi Group of the China Ethnic Orchestral Society, to give us his insights on the instrument, its background and hopefully a story to tie everything together.

Song lists:

1. Ancient Song, 古歌, performed by Gen Dequan

2. Joyful Water-Splashing Festival, 欢乐的泼水节

3. The Welcoming of Spring, 迎春

4. Deep in the Bamboo Forest, 竹林深处

5. The Golden Peacock in the Distance, 远方飞来的金孔雀

6. Dreaming back to the Heavenly Mountain, 梦归天山

7. Deep in the Night, 新编夜深沉

8. Wild Wolf, 野狼

9. BGM: Hedge Bamboo under Moonlight, 月光下的凤尾竹, performed by Gen Dequan

Previously, we enjoyed some of Wang Bei's amazing musical works for the 2015 Chinese television series, The Legend of Mi Yue, the story of the first stateswoman in Chinese history. We had the pleasure of having the composer disclose his inspirations and thoughts behind the screen musical pieces that narrate the emotional atmosphere behind the scenes. Today, we'll enjoy Wang's compositions for the documentary, 'Aerial China'.

'Aerial China 'is a large-scale documentary that showcases China from a birds-eye perspective, featuring some of the most representative and beautiful landscapes in the country.

SONG LISTS:

1. BGM: Spring and Autumn, 春秋, composed by Wang Bei, performed by Du Cong

2. Aerial China OST, 航拍中国, composed by Wang Bei, performed by 国际首席爱乐乐团, Cello: Guan Zhengyue, Flute: Wang Hua, Vocal: Huo Yuanyuan, Huang Wanting