Music Talks

From Shakespeare, Jane Austen to George Orwell, a range of literary greats have inspired songwriters in the West. China also has many classic poems that have given rise to musical genius. “Love Lasts Forever” by Faye Wong is perhaps one of the most recognized songs in China, which was adapted from poet Su Shi’s masterpiece titled “When the Bright Moon Appears in Sky”. Today our guest on the show i...

Previously, we've introduced a bowed-string instrument, called the banhu, which is often acclaimed as the Chinese violin due to its sound. In this episode, we will bring you another member of the bowed-string family, the erhu, which is good at depicting intricate emotional expressions, such as sorrow and helplessness, and several notable animal portrayals. Today, our guest on the show is Duan Chao...

Previously, we've introduced an unorthodox zither, called the duosheng zheng, which consists of two zithers of different sizes that are joined. The new model is a result of instrumental reform that its musical expression has been considerably enhanced, and allows musicians to integrate more bodily movements according to the mood of the music, which adds to the experience. Today, we continue with M...

China’s National Day falls on October 1st each year, to commemorate the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. This year marks the 71th anniversary of the founding of the nation and also another important holiday, the Mooncake Festival, also occurs on the same day. Whether you are at home enjoying quality time with your beloved ones or on your way to a resort destination, the music we pr...

In ancient times, Chinese instruments were usually divided into eight groups, depending on what they were made from, including stone, wood, silk, metal, bronze, soil, leather and gourd. In this episode, we will get some insight into a representative instrument of the gourd type, the sheng, one of the oldest free-reed instruments in the world. After the instrument was spread globally through the An...

Michael Tan Chen is a celebrated American Chinese pianist and composer. He learnt playing the piano at age four and composed his first piece at 11. In 1990, 14-year-old Tan went to the US and studied at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Later, Tan studied piano and composition at the renowned Julliard School of Music. Last week, Tony Reid had the pleasure meeting Tan Chen at his home in Beijing...

Previously, we’ve introduced an eastern version of the guitar, called the ruan, which shares a similar tonality, appearance and playing techniques. Today, we have Ms Zhao Yue with us, a ruan performer from the top orchestra in the nation, the China National Traditional Orchestra. She brings us several representative pieces of the genre and hopes that our listeners are able to explore the enchantme...

Autumn is coming. After months of scorching heat and muggy humidity, the sky appears higher; the air becomes lighter and drier. Leaves start to turn red and yellow, making our surroundings incredibly colourful. It is a season that inspires musicians to compose and poets to write. Today, let's hear songs reflecting this beautiful season. Song Lists: 1. BGM: Sight-Lady YingLuo 见-璎珞姑娘, konghou b...

In this episode, we continue with Ms Cai Ziyue, a pipa instrumentalist with the China National Traditional Orchestra, who brings us several pipa renditions of theme songs from popular TV series in recent years, hoping to boost the popularity of the instrument. Song lists: 1. BGM: Romantic Longings, 相思 2. Have You Ever Known, 知否 知否 3. The Sound of Falling Snow, 雪落下的声音 4. Bracing the Chi...

The 'Black Duck' trio黑鸭子组合, known by the public since the 1990s, is one of China's earliest and most famous female singing groups. Last time, we have enjoyed some of their original songs. Today, we continue to join the trio to listen in on several cover versions of some of the most popular songs over the decades. SONG LISTS: 1. intro: Happiness is like a flower 幸福就像花儿一样 2. Farewell 送...

In this episode, Ms Cai Ziyue, a pipa instrumentalist from the top orchestra in the nation—the China National Traditional Orchestra, will introduce four pipa songs. Each one represents a certain period of time in history, from ancient times, through the twentieth century, and finally to the present. Let’s embark with her on a special journey to explore this exquisite instrument. Song lists: 1. BMG...

The 'Black Duck' group has been one of China's earliest and most famous female singing groups. In this episode, we join Ms Guo Qi and the 'Black Duck' trio to witness their beautiful & harmonic voices. Song Lists: 1. BGM: Waverider 踏浪, composed by Gu Yue, Lyrics by Zhuang Nu 2. My Motherland and I 我和我的祖国, composed by Qin Yongcheng, lyrics by Zhang Li 3. Good People Good Dream 好人好梦, com...

Previously, we’ve introduced the famed wind and percussion ensemble, the Zhou Family Band, which has over one hundred members, all surnamed Zhou. You probably already have some insight into their evolving musical style after exploring the band’s traditional and modern songs. Today, our guest on the show is the fifth-generation leader of the band, Mr Zhou Benming, who brings us some of their recent...

Falling on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, the Qixi Festival, or the Double Seventh Festival, is celebrated here as China's Valentine's Day. And this year, it falls on August 25th. Like many other festivals, this one also has a story connected to it. It is "The story of the Herdsman and Weaver Girl". Today, let's hear the story and enjoy some Chinese love songs for this eastern Valentine's Day...

In this episode, we introduce a renowned wind and percussion ensemble, called the Zhou Family Band, a national cultural inheritor of the genre. With over six hundred years of history, their music is traditionally performed on several occasions, such as weddings, funerals, child births and birthdays. Nowadays, the folk band is looking to revive their traditional essence by infusing components of wo...

Previously, we introduced Tuo Le band from the Tibetan Plateau, who is dedicated to inheriting ancient Tibetan vocals, a folk art listed in China's Intangible Cultural Heritage. The chanting originated in India and entered into the Tibetan region with the influence of Buddhism, and gradually became part of Tibetan people's lives. Today, we continue to join Tuo Le as they chant us to Tibetan Platea...

The banhu is a member of the bowed-string family, mainly featured in regional operas from the northwest of China for quite some time. It was once considered a folk instrument and was not typically performed on a big stage. Thanks to several generations of banhu performers that made a valuable contribution towards optimizing its playing techniques and broadening its musical expression, the banhu no...

Today, we talk about fitness and music. Through interviewing musicians from China National Traditional Orchestra and others, let's hear what their workout habits are and how music affects them. In addition, we'll get their recommendations on some Chinese tunes that you could add to your workout playlists - all in today's Music Talks. Song Lists: 1. BGM: The Rhyme of Drum 鼓之韵, by Zhu Jianping 2....

The bawu is a free-reed bamboo pipe with a single metal reed, predominantly performed in the Yi, Miao and Hani communities in southwest China’s Yunnan, Guizhou Provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. With soft and mellow tonality, many say the music of the instrument speaks directly to people’s heart. Today, Mr He Weiqing, the chairman of the Bawu Group of the China Ethnic Orchestral Socie...

Get a glimpse of the classics of the East with 'Music Talks'. Join in on the discussions, performances and stories from China's top instrumentalists.

Tuo Le band is renowned for Tibetan chanting, a folk art listed in China's Intangible Cultural Heritage. The chanting originated in India and entered into the Tibetan region with the influence of Buddhism, and gradually became part of local people's lives. However, nowadays, fewer young people can chant like their elders can/did. To prevent this ancient practice from disappearing, Tuo Le takes it...

Guangdong Hakka music is one of the three major musical genres in the province, which has more than 1600 years of history. Inscribed onto the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2006, its music is classic and elegant, incorporating elements of diversified musical styles throughout the nation. Today, we have Xiong Changjiang with us, a celebrated touxian performer with the Guangdong Hakka...

'Shen Jun', a reputed band from Inner Mongolia has been active on stage over the years. The group is phenomenal at playing several Mongolian instruments, in combination with stunning vocality, as we've heard in the previous episode. Today, we continue to join Chao Lumen from Shen Jun in a few more of their works that bring you closer to life on the pasture. Also, the band creatively rearranged som...

Previously, we have introduced to you the Chinese zither, or the guzheng, famous for its abundant musical expressions, especially depicting water in motion. Today, we get up-close with Miao Qing, a guzheng performer with the top orchestral band in the nation---the China National Traditional Orchestra, who introduces a new model of the zither called the binary guzheng and brings us some of her prev...

Founded in 2011, 'Shen Jun' is a reputed band from Inner Mongolia that has been active on stage over the years, infusing modernity into traditional nomadic melodies. The band is not only remarkable at playing the fiddle but versatile in mastering diverse instruments as well. Some members are also excellent singers, full of nomadic flavour that connects their audiences to the vast grassland. Anothe...