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 episode, we will get up-close with Yao Jue, who will share with us how she boosts cultural ties between th...
Jul 14, 2022•23 min
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 Cantonese pop songs over the past decade, is our guest. His covers are more soothing that are pleasant...
Jul 07, 2022•35 min
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 you several Cantonese classics by representative Hong Kong singers. We will also hear from their fans ...
Jun 29, 2022•41 min
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 Indian dulcimer, classical music and culture, and also introduced the Chinese dulcimer to the nation ...
Jun 23, 2022•30 min
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 localizing the violin is to make Chinese violin pieces with distinctive Chinese features known to the wo...
Jun 16, 2022•36 min
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 expressing their concerns about the pressing issues through their works. Composer Deng Weibiao is a leadin...
Jun 09, 2022•28 min
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 dumpling warped in leafs. Today, the director and chief conductor of the prestigious China National Tra...
Jun 01, 2022•40 min
International Children's Day aims to draw the world attention to issues affecting children. To celebrate this special day for our young listeners, our guest on the show is Duan Liyang, a singer and song writer of children's songs. She brings us several of her melodic works and also talks about how she made her childhood dreams come true.
May 26, 2022•30 min
Previously, we introduced a three-stringed lute, called the Sanxian, which is a common supplementary instrument in the folk performance of Beijing, so many say they feel nostalgia for old Beijing when hearing it. Today, instrumentalist Wang Yu joins us and shares how he puts effort into optimizing the electric Sanxian. His aim is to expand its volume, giving it a more powerful resonance. He also brings us several remarkable works played with the electric three-stringed lute.
May 19, 2022•35 min
Guzheng or 21-stringed zither performer Luan Siyuan brings several modern Guzheng works that she collaborates with foreign musicians to find chemistry when the Chinese instrument is played with others from different cultures.
May 12, 2022•27 min
Mother's Day is observed annually in many countries in May. For those that are celebrating it, what's your plan to make it special? To enhance the festive vibes, several composers and a songwriter join us to share their songs that honor motherhood.
May 06, 2022•28 min
Earth Day falls on April 22 each year since 1970. The annual event brings together millions of people from around the world in support of the environment, highlighting the urgent actions people need to take to save our planet. The theme for this year is Invest in Our Planet. As we mark this special day, several celebrated composers and songwriters join us in the hope of using their works to spread the message about the importance of environmental conservation and the urgent need to protect our E...
Apr 20, 2022•30 min
Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping played a zither rendition of the song "The Jasmine Flower" in China's Space Station on Feb 15 this year to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Music isn't only a method for astronauts to keep connected with people on Earth, but also a carrier of messages sent into orbit in the hope of reaching out to other intelligent life and to exhibit human civilization. In this edition, we'll introduce several Chinese musical masterpieces that were sent into space during China's lun...
Apr 14, 2022•30 min
Have you ever seen an animated fantasy movie titled "Coco"? It tells a story of a 12-year old boy named Miguel who has a special journey to the Land of the Dead. In this afterlife world, he meets many deceased family members and learns that their spirits remain only if their living relatives remember them each year. The storyline was inspired by the Mexican holiday—the Day of the Dead. China also has this tradition to cultivate kinship values, filial piety, and continuity of lineage. It is a pub...
Apr 04, 2022•29 min
The Gezi is a unique band, which consists of 13 young adults living with autism. They are able to play a challenging classic titled “Radetzky March," rearranged for 6 pianos, each with 2 members playing on the same instrument. Hou Linqi is the piano tutor for the band that used to be a music teacher in a university in Beijing before she retired. We'll get up-close with the Gezi Band and their tutor. Let's explore the band's innovative and entertaining ways of learning music and how art has shape...
Apr 01, 2022•23 min
World Water Day has been celebrated on March 22nd every year since 1993, with an aim to emphasize the importance of fresh water. Did you know that more than 30 percent of all freshwater on Earth is groundwater? So far, we have exploited more than 20 percent of the resource already. In this edition, we'll bring you several melodic tunes portraying water in different scenarios. Let's hear the sound of flowing water, and feel the rhythm of the source of life.
Mar 24, 2022•30 min
Poetry and music has been intertwined for thousands of years. We'll bring you several remarkable pieces for the 21-stringed zither or the Guzheng in Chinese, which were inspired by ancient Chinese poems. Let's feel the unique chemistry when the two art forms are blended. Our guest on the show is instrumentalist and composer Luan Siyuan.
Mar 17, 2022•31 min
Although diagnosed with polio, Zhang Qian accomplishes her dream in music when she performed at the warm-up show before the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics. We'll get up close with Zhang's unique experience at the ceremony and her ensemble, which is mainly made up of musicians with disabilities.
Mar 10, 2022•22 min
Zhao Xin is a talented blind composer and music producer who overcame a myriad of obstacles to pursue his musical career. We'll share Zhao's works, including the latest song composed for Beijing 2022, and get a glimpse of his journey to be a musician.
Mar 03, 2022•28 min
The Winter Olympics were first held in 1924. So far, 13 countries have hosted the Games. In this edition, we'll bring you seven notable melodies, which are not only pleasing to the ear, but also are representative of a host city, such as "Jambalaya" from the United States, "Santa Lucia" from Italy, and "Kalinka" from Russia. The versions we play will be slightly different from the original ones, as they are performed by members of the prestigious Beijing Chinese Orchestra using traditional Chine...
Feb 24, 2022•26 min
The official motto of Beijing 2022 is "Together for a Shared Future," which highlights the necessity for humankind to work together towards a better future. In this edition, we bring you uplifting Olympic-themed songs that reflect the motto and the strength of athletes.
Feb 17, 2022•30 min
With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics now well underway, we will continue to bring you upbeat songs that are able to give you an overall perspective of the sporting event by reflecting on the invaluable contribution of the volunteers, the unique designs and the sustainability of the Games.
Feb 10, 2022•28 min
The opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will kick off in China on Feb. 4th. We not only will be able to feel the Olympic spirits by watching the competitions, but we can also celebrate its symbolism by exploring some of the music that is inspired by the grand sporting events. Today, we’ll bring you the latest Olympics-themed songs that are no less upbeat than what you might hear on the pop charts. Most importantly, musicians will share with us the stories behind the scene....
Feb 02, 2022•31 min
If you want to step back from the hustle and bustle of urban life and enjoy a moment of peace, we'll take you on a musical journey to explore the eight historical natural sceneries of Beijing. The China Chinese Orchestra has released a large-scale of orchestral suite, which depicts these picturesque spots. We'll also get an insight of the historical antidotes and cultural traditions behind the scene.
Jan 27, 2022•49 min
The Central Axis of Beijing, a cluster of ancient buildings and cultural sites, is the core area of the old city that stretches 7.8 kilometers, from Yongding Gate in the south to the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in the north. Today, we take you on a journey to explore the ancient city through the local musical scene along the axis.
Jan 20, 2022•53 min
Many local Beijingers say the sound of the three-stringed lute is a nostalgic sound for them that has the magical power to remind them of the old Beijing of the 80s and 90s. The famed sanxian performer Wang Yu, a Beijing native, shares with us why the sound of the lute is symbolic of the ancient city, and brings several of his distinctive works that reflect the street scenes of Beijing in his memory.
Jan 13, 2022•31 min
Previously, we got up-close with Jazz musician Liu Peiyi, and he shared his 10-year experience of learning Jazz with a couple of world-renowned masters in the States, as well as his understanding of jazz music and his ways to promote the popularity of the genre among the public. In this edition, we continue with Liu. He brings us several innovative works incorporating elements of popular Chinese folk songs.
Jan 06, 2022•27 min
The New Year's Day falls on January 1st on the Gregorian calendar. People around the globe have been celebrating the New Year since ancient times. To boost the excitement of the holiday, several prestigious Chinese instrumentalists join us today to share tuneful melodies with you. We'll also check out some fun New Year's traditions in different countries around the world.
Dec 30, 2021•44 min
Patua is an endangered dialect in Macao. A small portion of people, known as the Macanese, are able to speak it, which are the descendants of Portuguese and Chinese. Filomeno Jorge, aka Russo, is one of the few. He is the leader of a time-honored band called "Tuna Macanese". We'll bring you several songs by the band and get an insight into their way to promote the Macanese culture across the globe.
Dec 23, 2021•29 min
Macao is sometimes referred to as the Las Vegas of the east, due to its glitz and glamor. Under the bright lights, the local people say their city is peaceful and unique for its multi-cultural blend of history, cuisine and language. Two-stringed fiddle performer Wu Shaoxiong selects several pieces from his album “Macao” to take you on a journey to reveal the true face of the city's culture though the local music scene.
Dec 16, 2021•29 min
