Chords of China

The drum might be as old as the Chinese history itself. According to recorded legend, ceramic drums appeared in the farthest reaches of antiquity. Drums have been part of almost every aspect of Chinese social life, including life at court, in religious ceremonies, in farming, and during war. The percussionist Zhu Jianping from the China National Traditional Orchestra joined us to talk about how he's combining the traditional sound of the Chinese drums with modern elements to keep it vibrant and relevant today.

What does the ancestor of the piano sound and look like? Find out on Chords of China.

Erhu is a daily accompaniment to the lives of a great many Chinese people. It is the most common member of the huqin, which is a family of Chinese bowed string instruments. In this episode, you will hear heartbreaking erhu music “The Moon over a Fountain” and the story behind this famous piece. Huqin instrumentalist Zhang Xuguang will lead us to the music world of huqin.

The sheng is a multi-reed mouth organ that consists of numerous bamboo pipes, varying in length. Some believe that the first shengs were brought to Europe in the 18th century, and enlightened the invention of western reed instruments. In this episode, you will hear heartwarming sounds and music from the famous sheng master, Wu Tong. He will lead us on a journey toward an enlightened understanding of not only the sheng’s history but also its uniqueness as an instrument of China’s ancient royalty.

Having over 2500-years of history, the guzheng is never too archaic to integrate into modern society. In fact, it has marvelous musical capability that it can establish a musical intercourse with western opera; it works well with ancestral and new-age genres, and it symbolizes the quintessence of eastern civilization.

The Dizi is a distinctive wind instrument, which is a kind of flute, expressive and capable of imitating the sounds of nature. The secret of its unique timbre lies in a tiny piece of reed membrane.

The pipa is a Chinese lute with a history dating back more than 2,000 years. It is reputed as 'the king of traditional Chinese instruments'. Its sounds can be aggressive and powerful, but also tender and romantic.

From China’s Warring States period more than 2,400 years ago, the Zenghouyi chime bells were unearthed in 1978， the year that marked the start of a new chapter in China’s history. The discovery of the bells revealed a design that had been lost to history and enhanced Chinese musicology. It has witnessed the changes of China over the past 40 years.

Explore the instrument that carries ancient Chinese wisdom dating back to over 9000 years in the past. The plucked instrument ruan has the capacity to convey the core cultural values of the Chinese people, purify the soul and inspire those who open themselves to its charm.

It is an iconic instrument in ancient Chinese culture. What does the 3,000 year-old stringed instrument guqin sound and look like? Where did it come from? And how has it influenced Chinese culture? Let's find out on Chords of China.