Music Talks

The Suona is a traditional Chinese instrument that is played by blowing into a double-reed, through a mouth piece and then through the wooden body. Known for its extremely penetrating sound and distinctively northern flavor, the Chinese Suona is an instrument that has the ability to instinctively take the lead of all other instruments when played. Today, the Suona can refer to different kinds of t...

The Ruan is a lute with four strings, a fretted neck, and is similar to the Pipa. The Ruan existed about 2000 years ago in the Western Jin Dynasty. This episode walks us through the history of the Ruan, telling stories about its origin, and explores how it combines tradition with new ideas.

Nanyin music is an ancient art form with a lineage of more than a thousand years surviving political, social and cultural change. It has been able to incorporate new influences, stay relevant to changing audiences yet maintain its ancient legacy. In 2009, China successfully championed for UNESCO designation of Nanyin as intangible cultural assets.

The Konghou is an ancient Chinese harp. It was once one of the most popular musical instruments in China but became extinct sometime in the Ming Dynasty. Now in the 20th Century, it has been revived in the shape of a double bridge harp. This modern version of the instrument barely resembles its ancient form, but has a shape similar to Western frame harps.

Qin music tends to linger on certain notes, with an emphasis on silence and timbre, giving it a meditative quality. "Qin qi shu hua" refers to the Four Arts of the Chinese Scholar, wherein "qin" refers specifically to Guqin. In this episode, we learn more about the development of this musical instrument, to understand its connotation in trying to cultivate one's mind.

“Pi” for plucking the strings forward, and “pa” for plucking the strings backward. The Pipa, sometimes called the "Chinese lute", is a plucked instrument with a varying number of frets ranging from 12 to 31. In this episode, we explore the historical stories of this traditional musical instrument, and see how modern Pipa artists have been working to keep it alive.

The Bianqing is a traditional Chinese percussion instrument consisting of a set of L-shaped flat stone chimes known as Qing, played melodically. In this episode, we dive into the stories associated with this musical instrument, while understanding more about China's ancient ritual and court music.

Explore the Xun, an ancient Chinese wind instrument with over 7,000 years of history. This rare earthen instrument reflects a journey through China's musical history and connects deeply with traditional Chinese philosophy. In this episode, we delve into the Xun's legacy and its significance in Chinese culture.

COP28 calls for global collective action and commitment to protect the environment and restore the vitality of nature in response to the climate change crisis. We explore the melodies depicting the natural scenery of China and the prosperity of local people through traditional Chinese ethnic instruments such as the Erhu, Yangqin, and Suona, as well as contemporary vocal works that praise the prote...

The traditional Chinese Zheng has an illustrious history that dates back thousands of years. Along its evolving journey, it has also inspired the creation of many other musical instruments. Join us to appreciate the wonderful music composed by this "Chinese harp".

This episode explores the Sheng, a traditional Chinese wind instrument known for its ability to produce harmonies independently. Revered as the forebear of reed instruments, the Sheng has influenced various Western instruments like the organ and accordion. We delve into its phoenix-inspired design and its profound role in shaping musical aesthetics in China and beyond.

In September 1973, the Philadelphia Orchestra visited China for the first time, marking a historic moment as the first American orchestra to tour to the country. In November 2023, they return to Beijing, commemorating 50 years of enduring cultural ties and musical collaboration between the two nations. In this special edition of “Music Talks”, we will take you on a journey of friendship and harmon...

In China, drums are an instrument that transcend its musical identity. In times long past, they acted as a celestial bridge for communication, an integral part of labor, military, ceremonial, and spiritual life. Today, they continue to symbolize the Chinese people's aspirations for prosperity and happiness, playing a vital role in the performing arts.

Embark on a journey to explore the poetic beauty of Hangzhou, the host city of the 19th Asian Games. Let your soul be enchanted by harmonious melodies and timeless poems in this special episode of Music Talks, celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Words from Chinese ancient poems... Captivating notes in Chinese traditional music... A symphony of culture and history that will touch your heart and stir your soul... Will Hangzhou, the heart of China's poetic heritage, now a city of sportsmanship and unity, leave you inspired and enchanted？ Join the Hangzhou Rendezvous with Music Talks on Mid-Autumn Day, to appreciate the serene beauty describ...

In this episode, we journey through the majestic realms of China’s ancient Bianzhong Bells, which are grand percussion instruments dating back to the 11th century BC. Join us to uncover the bells’ extraordinary design, dual-tone capabilities, and their role in unveiling the rich tapestry of China’s musical and ceremonial culture.

In this episode, we unravel the enchanting story of the Jiahu Bone Flutes, or Gudi, an ancient instrument that emerged over 8,000 years ago. Rediscovered in the 1980s, these flutes illuminate a rich musical heritage that has long been forgotten...

In this episode, we dive into the distinctive music of the Yi people, the sixth largest ethnic minority in China. In 2019, two Gen-Z musicians, Ji'er Chisha and Liu Junlin, embarked on a journey to the Yi ethnic areas in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces to collect folk songs. In March, 2023, they released an album featuring a collection of songs with strong Yi characteristics based on what they had se...

Our guest today is Liao Nini, a guqin enthusiast, a teacher and also an online influencer who has been actively promoting the ancient Chinese zither over the past decade. With a history of over 3,000 years, the guqin is one of the oldest plucked instruments in China. Apart from her proficiency in the guqin, she is also skilled in playing the guzheng, another traditional Chinese plucked zither with...

Duanwu Festival, better known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on June 22 this year. With a history of over 2,000 years, it's celebrated annually on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. To mark this special occasion, we invite several young musicians from across the country to share with us how the festival is reflected in music.

In this episode, we are joined by a music producer and DJ from Shanghai who goes by the name M3SSIAH. Considered one of the early pioneers of China's electronic music scene, the musician trailblazed a style known as China Epic EDM by blending traditional Chinese elements and symphony into electronic music. Today, the artist brings us several pieces of his original works.

In this episode, we introduce a lesser-known musical treasure from ancient China called the xun. Also known as the Chinese ocarina, it's a vessel flute that is often made of clay and is shaped like a pear with multiple holes dotted on the surface. Over the past decades, a number of artists have endeavored to bring the ancient gem back to life, with Wu Suxin being one of them. Today, Wu joins us an...

In this episode, we dive into the world of the double bass. For those who're not familiar with the instrument, it looks a lot like the cello but is larger in size and comes with a lower pitch. Our guest today is double bassist Li Shaonan from Beijing who aspires to bring healing music to a wider audience.

The shakuhachi is one of the most iconic wind instruments in Japan. It's an ancient bamboo flute with five finger holes and is held vertically. In terms of its origin, it's widely believed that the bamboo flute made its way to Japan from China around the 8th century. Our guest today is Chinese shakuhachi player Fang Guanghui. In this episode, Fang shares his musical encounter with the bamboo flute...

Dera Tserang is an ethnic Tibetan musician based in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Originally a member of the Tibetan band Nyima, Dera has been dedicated to creating world music with Tibetan characteristics. In this episode, Dera joins us and shares some of his handpicked songs.