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 Chill, 凉凉 5. Pointing at the Moon, 左手指月 6. The Smile of Peach Blossoms, 桃花笑 7. Time Flies, 红颜旧...
Sep 09, 2020•33 min
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 送别, composed by John Pond Ordway, lyrics by Li Shutong 3. Ural Rowan Tree 山楂树 4. The Price of Love 爱的代价, written by...
Sep 07, 2020•28 min
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: Lake Baikal, 贝加尔湖畔, composed by Li Jian 2. King Chu Dropped His Armor, 霸王卸甲, rearranged by Li Ting...
Sep 03, 2020•32 min
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, composed by Song Shuhua, lyrics by Fan Xiaobin 4. Taste of Home 家的味道, composed by Qi Jianbo, lyrics by Liu Boju...
Sep 01, 2020•25 min
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 recently released works, included in the album titled “Awakening”. Mr Zhou has been pivotal in making a br...
Aug 27, 2020•33 min
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. SONG LISTS: 1. BGM: Painted Skin 画皮, erhu by Jin Yue, Xiao by Ding Xiaokui 2. By the Waterside 在水一...
Aug 24, 2020•31 min
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 world music. Today, we have the producer of this ancient group Ms Ma Rong. She brings us several songs...
Aug 23, 2020•41 min
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 Plateau. Song Lists: 1. Intro BGM: Good Will 善愿 2. My Heart Upward 我心向上 3. Auspicious Words 吉祥语 4. Ode to ...
Aug 17, 2020•35 min
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 nowadays is a solo instrument and has led in Chinese ensemble since 1949. In this episode, we will int...
Aug 16, 2020•54 min
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. Made in China 中国制造, by Zhu Jianping 3. New Fengyang Flower Drum 新凤阳花鼓, by Zhu Jianping 4. BGM: The Whi...
Aug 12, 2020•27 min
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 Society, brings us several classic and modern bawu songs. Song lists: 1. BGM: Catching Fish in Rice Field...
Aug 09, 2020•32 min
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.
Aug 04, 2020•57 min
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 upon themselves to carry it on. Today, we join Tuo Le as they sing us to Tibetan Plateau. Song Lists...
Aug 03, 2020•31 min
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 Opera and Music Research Institution, who introduces historical background of the genre and brings ...
Jul 30, 2020•33 min
'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 some global songs for their Mongolian fiddles to play. Song Lists: 1. BGM: Here comes the spring 春天来了 2...
Jul 27, 2020•30 min
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 prevalent modern guzheng songs. Song lists: 1. The Copper Drum Dance, 铜鼓舞, composed by Li Meng, orchestr...
Jul 23, 2020•35 min
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. Another amazing feature of their performances includes what is called “throat singing”, is one of the olde...
Jul 20, 2020•28 min
Shi Juan is a famous pipa performer in China, as well as the leader of the Twelve Girls Band, a pioneer of the new folk movement, which has gained fame globally due to their innovation of fusing music from the East and West, combining pop with the classics. Today, Ms Shi brings us a newly released single from the Twelve Girls Band and several acclaimed songs selected from her personal albums. Song lists: 1. BGM: City Women, 城市女人, by Shi Juan 2. Lands Apart, Sky Shared, 风月同天, by the Twelve Girls ...
Jul 16, 2020•38 min
Previously, we met Pei Changjia, the soloist with China National Traditional Orchestra and we have enjoyed several songs from her album 'A Hearty Taste of Tea'(茶心). Each song, named after a Chinese tea, is an independent story of love, from an eastern female's perspective. Ms Pei not only sang the vocals, but she also composed a few songs for this album. Today, we continue our journey with her and enjoy more of her compositions. SONG LISTS 1. BGM: Longjing tea 莫问龙井, composed by Ma Jiuyue, lyrics...
Jul 13, 2020•29 min
Previously, Ms Dong Xiaolin, a top pipa performer from the China National Traditional Orchestra, shared with us some of her enchanting music, which sent us back in time to the Tang Dynasty to get a glimpse of the era and the lifestyle. Today, let’s continue exploring the pear-shaped Chinese lute with Ms Dong, who brings us another prominent piece from her album and a representative musical work from the late influential pipa master Liu Dehai. Song lists: 1. The Song of the Sky and Earth, 天地歌 2. ...
Jul 09, 2020•35 min
