Music Talks

"Paying it forward" is a worthwhile and fulfilling notion that we could use a lot more of in society. Sun Qiang is a visually impaired music producer, currently working in Chicago, the U.S. He arranges guitar music, records, edits and mixes soundtracks for film companies. In his spare time, he and about 40 musicians that are visually disabled voluntarily share audio instructions for others who can...

Many say the Great Wall is a must-see when they travel to China. It is the world's largest man-made structure, which was first built around 220 BC to protect China's northern border in ancient times. In case some of you haven’t had the chance to explore this architectural marvel in person, today we will give you a glimpse of it through music. The China National Traditional Orchestra recently held...

Palang Rocksilp is a Thai singer who speaks fluent Mandarin. He came to China to learn music at the age of 12 and spent nearly two decades in the country. Now back in Bangkok, the 33-year-old baritone says his hometown friends think he's very much a Chinese local. In this episode, Palang shares with us his musical journey and a few of his notable songs.

For our listeners out there, there might be a few among you who've heard 1973 composition from American composer Steve Reich titled “Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ”. It is played with several percussion instruments and the organ, along with harmonic vocals in the background. In case you are curious about the masterpiece, it was inspired by a classical orchestra from Indonesia, whic...

Zhao Mojia is a young guzheng instrumentalist with the Xinyi Chinese Chamber Orchestra in Shanghai. In this episode, we will get up-close with Zhao as she shares some of her musical compositions and her 25-year journey with the traditional Chinese instrument.

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 tr...

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 an...

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 unders...

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...

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,...

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 bec...

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 befo...

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 s...

Previously, we introduced to you a grand piece titled "The Epic of Manas," which narrates the story of a Kirgiz hero called Manas and his seven generations of descendants leading their people in preserving peace, unity and protecting their way of life. With 230,000 lines in total, it is reputed as the encyclopedia of the culture of the Kirgiz ethnic people living in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomo...

Valentine's Day is probably one of the most awaited days for romantic couples to declare their love and affection for each other. In case you missed the special day this year, or you want to seize every opportunity to express your feelings, I have an idyllic surprise for you. For those who don't know, Chinese Valentine's Day, or the Qixi Festival, is here and love is in the air! In this episode, w...

“The Epic of Manas,” similar to the Homeric tales in the West, narrates the stories of a Kirgiz hero called Manas and his seven generations of descendants leading their people to fight against invaders. The grand song is considered a significant encyclopedia of the life of the Kirgiz ethnic people living in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In this episode, we will get-up close with Tuohenali Tuxu...

The Hong Kong String Orchestra was founded by renowned violinist Yao Jue in 2013, with an aim to allow young musicians to pursue their dreams. In recent years, it has released several new works, adapted from famed Chinese songs. Yao believes it is important to infuse the distinctive characteristics of Chinese culture in their artistic creativity, as it is the root of their identity. In this episod...

Do you have any favorite songs that have been playing for years or even decades? Hearing the familiar melody from the past has the tendency to stir strong emotions and transport us back in time. Singers also have their all-time favorites. Apart from adding them to playlists, they cover these songs to pay tribute to the classics or to the artists. In this edition, Wang Wen, who has been covering Ca...

Cantopop is a contraction of Cantonese pop music mostly created by Hong Kong artists. It was phenomenal in the 1980s and 1990s when it almost dominated the Chinese pop music scene across the world. Although its popularity nowadays has declined, some golden oldies are just too classic to let go of and some argue that they will never get old even for generations to come. In this edition, we bring yo...

There are different types of hammered dulcimers across the globe, sharing similar tonality and appearance. The Chinese dulcimer is called the Yangqin. Over the past decade, Liu Yuening, a Yangqin professor with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, has committed herself to using music as a bridge to enhance intercultural communication. In 2009, she spent nine months in India to learn the I...

Many are probably familiar with the famed violin concerto "The Butterfly Lovers." Incorporating elements of a popular Chinese regional opera and played with the violin, the masterpiece was originally an experiment to compose a violin piece with Chinese musical style. Zhan Ning is a violin performer and an associate professor with the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. She explains the purpose of loca...

Many of you are familiar with Michael Jackson's epic single "Earth Song." The track sees the artist sending out a wakeup-call about the devastation of nature caused by mankind, from overexploitation of natural resources, to endless wars and to killing of animals. The late musical genius wasn't the only one using the power of music to confront the climate crisis. More musicians worldwide are expres...

The Dragon Boat Festival was the first Chinese festival inscribed onto UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. It is observed on the Fifth day of the fifth month on China's traditional Lunar Calendar. Some century- old customs are still observed during the festival today, such as the dragon boat race, diverse folk art performances, and eating zongzi— a type of glutinous rice dum...