Fei Wai is a male band based in the city of Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Unlike rock or pop bands that usually involve instruments like the guitar and drums, this group consists of three signature traditional Chinese instruments, namely the bamboo flute, the pipa, or the four-stringed lute, and the erhu, the two-stringed fiddle. The three Gen Zers have been covering pop songs since 2020, and their videos are starting to gain influence on the internet. In this episode, flutist Zhu Yongjie joins us ...
Feb 17, 2023•23 min
To present ancient Chinese wisdom of 24 Solar Terms through musical expression, composer Yang Qing wrote an orchestral suite titled “Life Rhythms.” As we embrace the season of renewal, Yang brings to us a few works from the orchestral suite to introduce the melodies of spring.
Feb 10, 2023•26 min
The Spring Festival holiday reaches its climax with the Lantern Festival, which falls on February 5 this year. It is widely celebrated with lantern shows, riddles, and glutinous rice ball treats. In this episode, Liu Jidong, director of the Beijing Mountain and Water Orchestra, brings us several pieces of uplifting music to mark the final carnival of the Spring Festival. He also shares the story of the ensemble which is composed primarily of physically challenged musicians.
Feb 03, 2023•23 min
The Chinese New Year welcomes the arrival of the upcoming year. Although the seven-day holiday is reaching its end, we hope to keep the excitement going for our listeners. Our guest on the show is Chen Libao, a Chinese horn instrumentalist with the China National Traditional Orchestra, who has made a commitment to rearranging the Chinese classics by blending Western musical styles, yet somehow he is able to retain the uniqueness and character of the instrument. Today, the artist brings us severa...
Jan 27, 2023•29 min
January 22 marks the Spring Festival, the most important traditional occasion for Chinese people. It's a time of merriment, family reunions and a fresh start. In this episode, Dai Yin, head of the Nanjing Traditional Chinese Orchestra, joins us and shares a few works to get you into the festive spirit.
Jan 20, 2023•25 min
We'll introduce a couple of modern Erhu works with a storytelling vibe that'll seamlessly get you into the musical zone. If you're a long time listener to our show, you probably recognize that the instrument is a member of the bowed-string family, notable for depicting intricate emotional expressions and closely resembling a human's voice. Today, our guest on the show is Erhu instrumentalist Li Feng, with the Central Broadcasting Traditional Instruments Orchestra. Her latest works are pioneer in...
Jan 12, 2023•24 min
After China optimizing its anti-Covid-19 measures in late December, the nation has gradually returned to normal routines, including professional musicians. He Xie is a composer and a Chinese harp instrumentalist who's been planning his concert since April of last year. However, it was put on hold twice due to the pandemic. Thanks to the recent changes of Covid restrictions, the composer is now able to return to the stage and has scheduled his gig in the first half of this year. In this episode, ...
Jan 12, 2023•30 min
The internet has changed people's lives in many ways and has given rise to new jobs, such as online influencers. Nowadays, a group of young musicians in China are striving to bring traditional Chinese music alive through digital content. Our guest today, Liu Qingyao, is one of them.
Jan 05, 2023•24 min
New Year's Day falls on January 1 on the Gregorian calendar. How will you celebrate and recount this year as it comes to a close? To spread the festive vibes in the air, here on this show, we'll share some upbeat tracks from "The Drum Voices" series, composed by Yan Minmin. We'll also check out some fun New Year's traditions in different countries from around the world.
Dec 29, 2022•27 min
Over 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created a time system based on the Sun's annual motion to guide agricultural production and social practices, or what we know today as the 24 Solar Terms. Throughout the years, the Chinese solar terms have also inspired many artists in various fields, including Yang Qing, a young composer with the China Broadcasting Performing Arts Group. And from this inspiration, she's created an orchestral suite which represents the annual passage of time.
Dec 21, 2022•24 min
Can you imagine the despair and the hopelessness when polar bears have to swim for days in the deep ocean to find habitable ice caps to live on, thousands of koalas are swallowed up by endless wildfires, and marine animals are dying in oil spills or get entangled in plastic? If you can, it is never too late to make a change, which matters not just for the vulnerable creatures but also for ourselves and for future generations. In this episode, we've handpicked several pieces that were inspired by...
Dec 15, 2022•28 min
In this episode, we dive into the world of the bamboo flute, one of the oldest musical instruments known in China. Celebrated flutist Tang Junqiao joins us today, sharing with us several of her very own handpicked songs. Tang is a leading figure of contemporary Chinese folk music who has been to many parts of the world performing concertos with the bamboo flute among internationally known orchestras. She is also an educator currently with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
Dec 08, 2022•25 min
"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 cannot see, yet want to learn how to use a full-featured music software. Sun's incentive came from his ...
Dec 01, 2022•30 min
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 a concert, featuring the Great Wall from different angles. Tang Feng is deputy director with the ens...
Nov 24, 2022•34 min
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.
Nov 17, 2022•25 min
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, which is called gamelan. Consisting of percussion, stringed and wind instruments, this genre of music is...
Nov 15, 2022•24 min
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.
Nov 10, 2022•29 min
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 ...
Nov 03, 2022•32 min
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.
Oct 27, 2022•23 min
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.
Oct 20, 2022•22 min
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.
Oct 03, 2022•30 min
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.
Sep 29, 2022•32 min
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.
Sep 22, 2022•29 min
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 Moga...
Sep 06, 2022•28 min
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.
Sep 01, 2022•37 min
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.
Aug 23, 2022•22 min
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.
Aug 16, 2022•29 min
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 Autonomous Region. These days, there have been many efforts to preserve the 1000-year cultural heritage in t...
Aug 10, 2022•18 min
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, we will bring you several pieces to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of romance. We will also shar...
Aug 02, 2022•39 min
“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 Tuxunnali, an inheritor of singing this epic. He will share with us several famed excerpts of “The Epic ...
Jul 26, 2022•12 min
