Music Talks

For our longtime listeners out there, a quick quiz for you. What's your impression of the Erhu or the Chinese two-stringed fiddle? Many say that it creates a tearful ambience, and can duplicate the sounds of animals, such as birds or even horses. In this episode, we will bring you several modern Erhu pieces by the Central Broadcasting Traditional Instruments Orchestra. I bet when you hear these tracks, they may give you a new perspective of the instrument. Our guests join us today will not only introduce breathtaking music, but will also give us some background on the creative process.

China Oriental Performing Arts Group has recently launched a new concert that drew inspiration from one of the most famous classical Chinese paintings of all time titled "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains." It was painted around 900 years ago by an art prodigy named Wang Ximeng, who finished the masterpiece at the young age of 18. The concert aims to bring the traditional Chinese aesthetics to another level through music by portraying the country's lucid waters and lush mountains.

Yan Minmin is a famed composer. Her composing style is versatile as she fuses musical elements from around the world with the unique sounds of Chinese instruments. In this episode, Yan joins us again and brings us several of her recent works, with Chinese drums as the lead instrument. Wang Jianan, a percussion performer with the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater, will provide his understanding from the angle of the performing artist of these pieces.

Staying healthy is essential for living a fulfilling life. On many occasions, we can hear people praying for good health and well-being, such as on New Year's Day and birthdays. China's Double Ninth Festival also celebrates wellness and longevity. In this episode, we invite several musicians on our show to share songs that reflect the unique customs carried out around this time of the year.

In this episode, we’ll present to you an orchestral suite titled Dang Kang by the Nanjing Traditional Chinese Orchestra. "Dang Kang" was derived from an auspicious beast with the same name, which was introduced in one of the earliest collections of Chinese mythologies titled The Classic of Mountains and Seas. The piece consists of six parts, most of which were composed based on well-known Chinese folklores. It portrays the optimism and persistence needed to overcome life's obstacles.

Founded in 2015, the Beijing Traditional Chinese Orchestra's musical style has an authentic Beijing sound with creative improvisations. Li Changjun is director of the ensemble and shares with us some intriguing stories about how the orchestra has made a breakthrough among Millennials and Gen Zers.

There's an old saying that families that play together stay together. The Chinese Moon Festival also celebrates family reunion as the round shape of a full moon symbolizes family gathering. On this particular day, family members in China and other Asian countries typically enjoy the fullness of the moon together. For those that are moon lovers, apart from admire it conventionally in the night sky, we are also able to appreciate it in many historical murals in China, more specifically in the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang. In this episode, we will bring you several musical works that were inspired by the spectacular Dunhuang murals, a rare gem in the world's history of Buddhist art.

Some say good teachers know how to bring out the best in their students. Famed Guzheng performer, educator and instrumental reformer Li Meng certainly fits that profile. In this episode, her student Miao Qing, who is now a performer with the China National Traditional Orchestra, shares with us some intriguing and memorable stories about how her mentor guided her to find the joy of music and to become a professional.

Qiao Yu, a household name in China, had a long career spanning seven decades in song and script writing. He wrote over 1,000 songs, some of which are still performed today and have gained popularity among audiences young and old. The master sadly passed away this year at the age of 95. Today, we will bring you several representative works of Qiao and listen to some audio commentaries recorded before the musical sensation passed away where he shared the story behind the music.

Can you think of a song that reminds you solely of a film that you've seen? These soundtrack songs have the remarkable ability to enhance the story, encapsulate the characters' feelings, and bring viewers into a different world and time. In this episode, we will get up-close with celebrated Guzheng instrumentalist Huang Baoqi. The zither performer will share with us her covers to remarkable film soundtracks.