Music Talks

In our last episode, we had a pleasure talking with Mr HE XIGE, who is a celebrated musician from Inner Mongolia. Mr HE is NOT ONLY an outstanding horse-head fiddle instrumentalist, but also a popular composer, who infuses modernity into traditional Mongolian fiddle music, winning the favour of numerous music lovers from home and abroad.

Some of you may have already heard a few of his songs in our last episode, like ‘Nostalgia’, or ‘Flying Emblem’, etc. Today, we continue to talk with Mr HE while listening to a few classic songs selected from his albums since 2005, and we also get to hear the stories behind these musical works.

SONG LISTS:

1. The horses returned 归来的马

2. White pony 白驹

3. Eternal horse head fiddle 永恒的马头琴

4. Faith 信念

5. The oath of the mountains and rivers 山河誓

Today, we have the pleasure of having a marvel in the Mongolian community joining us in the studio Mr He Xige. Mr HE is not only an excellent horsehead fiddle instrumentalist but also a celebrated composer, who infuses modernity into Mongolian fiddle music, winning the favour of numerous music lovers home and abroad.

'Flying Emblem' is one of He's most popular pieces. There were two kinds of emblems during Genghis Khan’s time, namely the black and white ones. The black emblem was used when going out to battle. The white one represented peace. Mr He says the white emblem was used in his music video, symbolising their enduring faith in peace and righteousness.

Song Lists:

1. 蒙古缘 Predestined Affection for Mongol

2. 乡愁 Nostalgia

3. 风中的苏鲁德 Flying Emblem

In our previous episodes, you’ve been introduced to the horse head fiddle, a traditional instrument from Mongolians and its musician Li Bo. Today we bring you selected songs from Li Bo’s albums in which we will listen to familiar melodies that are performed with this legendary instrument.

Song Lists

1. 滨辺の歌

2. Libertango

3. Csárdás

4. Air on the G String

5. Missing at the wildland 荒城之月寄思

6. Life Prayer 生命的祝福

Special Thanks to Li Bo and Sunrise Century Culture Development.

Today, we’ll continue our chat with Mr Li Bo, a celebrated Inner Mongolian musician of the horse head fiddle, and address his music and the stories behind his songs.

Aoter at a Far Distance was composed by Mr Li in 1981. It’s regarded as one of the most frequently performed in the genre. ‘Aoter’ in Mongolian refers to the migration process of the nomadic group. In summer, they load their ox-wagons with everyday essentials and seek fresher grass for their cattle. When finding a suitable place, they will settle their yurts there, and graze their cattle and horses for awhile.

The Mongolians are distinctive people renowned for riding on horseback. The horsehead fiddle is a symbol of the horse and the nomadic nature of this group. In the following episodes of Music Talks, we have Mr Li Bo, a celebrated musician of the instrument, in the studio with us, to share his legendary instrument and its legacy.

What was the story behind the instrument? Is it true that the fiddle's music can even sooth members of the animal kingdom? Find out in this episode!

Music Lists:

1. The Wind from Above, by Li Bo

2. The Legend of the Horse Head Fiddle, by Li Bo

3. The Lonely Camel Baby, by Li Bo

4. Pastoral, by Li Bo

Kunqu is said to be the mother of all Chinese operas. With a 400 year history, 'the Peony Pavilion’ is one of its celebrated tales of love, which has been remade into numerous films and plays. 

The uncut performances of this romantic 16th-century work consisted of more than 22 hours. Chinese composer Tan Dun, best known for his music for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, re-adapted this classic into a compact 75-minute production several years ago. With our colleague Liu Min’s help, our host Tony had the pleasure of watching Tan’s version from an online video recorded at the New York Metropolitan Museum. And we’ve invited Liu Min on Music Talks today to share with you ‘The Peony Pavilion’ while enjoying Tan’s version of the Chinese Kunqu opera.

To check out the New York Metropolitan Museum edition, click: https://www.metmuseum.org/peonypavilion

In our previous episodes, we got the chance to experience the guzheng, with the maestro, Zhang Lu with China National Traditional Orchestra. Today we bring you some selections from Zhang Lu’s album. The music you’re about to hear are the guzheng versions to a number of songs or film soundtracks you might be familiar with.

Song Lists:

1. Scarborough Fair

2. Wandering Songstress (天涯歌女)

3. Moon River

4. A Bright Sunny Day in Autumn (九九艳阳天)

5. Mama, Do You Remember? (草帽歌)

6. Red Dust (滚滚红尘)

Previously, we had the pleasure of experiencing Zhang Lu play the traditional guzheng piece 'High is the Moon' or 月儿高. Today, she will continue to share with us three musical works of hers that contain remnants of the traditional sound yet with modern elements. We bet you will love them!

Zhang Lu, an instrumentalist with China National Traditional Orchestra, brings us a very classic guzheng piece called the High is the Moon or Yue'er Gao in Chinese. We also hear about a special experience in Zhang’s solo concert in Norway.

Song Lists:

1. Tear Sands.

2. High is the Moon.

3. Nordnorsk Julesalme.

The guzheng, also known as a Chinese zither, is a Chinese plucked string instrument with more than 2,500-year history. Today and in the following episodes, let's explore the Chinese 21string-zither with Ms. Zhang Lu, a celebrated instrumentalist from China National Traditional Orchestra.

Music lists:

1. The Wandering Songstress

2. High Mountain and Flowing Water

3. Battling the Typhoon