Poetic tunes through the dynasties
Episode description
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 is Cen Jiawei, a guzheng instrumentalist of a famed zither orchestra in the nation, the Yuan Sha’s Zheng Orchestra.
She brings us several selective guzheng pieces that were inspired by classic poems.
Song lists:
1. A Calm within the Cyclone, 定风波, performed by Cen Jiawei
2. Lotus Flowers on the Water, 涉江采芙蓉, performed by Cen Jiawei
3. A Slumber under the Bridge, 枫桥夜泊, performed by Yuan Sha