Konghou, the Chinese Harp

About Music Talks

Feast your ears on the musical classics of the east with MUSIC TALKS, the Middle Kingdom’s mashup of classical music and in-depth discussions with some of China’s most celebrated orchestral professionals. Experience the instruments, get some perspective, feel the pulse of antiquity. The program is now available on Apple podcast, Spotify and Stitcher.

To learn more about our programs, search for 'Music Talks' on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Stitcher. [Photo by China Plus]

In the following three episodes, MUSIC TALKS explores the konghou, a plucked string instrument, with Wu Lin, the instrumentalist with China National Traditional Orchestra.

Wu Lin, the konghou-instrumentalist with China National Traditional Orchestra. [Photo Courtesy of Wu Lin]

Behind the Scenes:

Watch cohosts Niu Honglin and Tony Reid explore the konghou with instrumentalist Wu Lin.

Episode 1: A Thin Line Between The Chinese Harp & Imagery(Click the bar below to listen)

Wu Lin, the konghou instrumentalist from China National Traditional Orchestra brings you a classic konghou suite that was composed upon the same-name painting of the Song Dynasty, 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'.

Wu Lin, the konghou instrumentalist with China National Traditional Orchestra. [Photo Courtesy of Wu Lin]

Episode 2: The Harp vs. The Konghou(Click the bar below to listen)

What's the correlation between the Chinese and the western harp? How did the Konghou come into China? What's the secret of the instrument that can produce Chinese style melody? Find out in this episode.

Wu Lin instructed Music Talks host Tony Reid while playing the konghou. [Photo by China Plus]

Wu Lin and Music Talks hosts hold different forms of the konghou. [Photo by China Plus]

Episode 3: The Sound of Enchantment(Click the bar below to listen)

Let's enjoy some konghou music pieces selected from the instrumentalist Wu Lin's albums.

1. Earth- Fu Ni the Drunken Man

2. Wind- the Youth Patrolling the Mountain

3. Spring Night on a Moonlit River

4. Bells Ringing in the Rain

Wu Lin's album for the konghou pieces, 'Pao Xiu Luo Lan'.

Tony Reid, the host of Music Talks experiments with the konghou. [Photo by China Plus]