Infusing Modernity Into Traditional Chinese Music

In the 1990s, when pop songs from Taiwan, Hong Kong and western countries came to the Chinese mainland, they soon attracted the attention of Chinese youngsters due to their unique tempos, melodies and lyrics, which were modern, urban and trendy. As for traditional Chinese music, however, the post 1980s' impressions were: "Old fashioned and inflexible", "Monotone", "Outdated" or "Too traditional"…

Xi Qiang, president of China National Traditional Orchestra. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

Xi Qiang, President of the China National Traditional Orchestra (CNTO), where top instrumentalists across China gather, doesn't defend these tags. Yet, the strings master – who has been dealing with traditional Chinese music for more than 40 years – retains a deep love and pride for the national musical art. As head of the national art academy, he keeps thinking of a way forward.

"We shouldn't be complacent about the old classics' position in traditional Chinese music. Our music could also reflect modern ideas and taste." Xi Qiang, CNTO President

Xi Qiang is not an armchair strategist. Between 2013 and 2017, he and his CNTO team presented three new productions, namely the Chinese Music Trilogy, stunning audiences at home and abroad. In this edition of Music Talks, Yang Yong will introduce them to you one by one.

Founded in 1960, CNTO is a state-level performing arts institution funded by the Ministry of Culture. Members of CNTO consisted of an orchestra of traditional instruments and a choir, are highly-esteemed musicians both at home and abroad.[Photo Courtesy of CNTO]

01 Impression Chinese Music

Impression Chinese Music. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

In 2013, Xi Qiang invited Wang Chaoge to organise a concert of Chinese music. Wang, who co-directed the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with Zhang Yimou and Fan Yue, is well known for her innovative open-air shows.

Jiang Ying, the composer with CNTO, who wrote all the music for the new concert "Impression, Chinese Music".

Jiang Ying(L) and Wang Chaoge(R). [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

Impression Chinese Music: The musicians are encouraged to TALK to the audience, to share their stories and what's in their heart. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

Impression Chinese Music: The musicians are encouraged to TALK to the audience, to share their stories and what's in their heart. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

The concert of "Impression, Chinese Music" has also fulfilled one of the CNTO President Xi Qiang's dreams, a dream of reviving the ancient instruments painted on the Dunhuang Murals.

In the murals of the Dunhuang Grottoes in Gansu Province, there are more than 6,000 scenes painted which are relevant to the music performances of ancient Chinese dynasties. Among them, more than 70 kinds of instruments, including percussion, wind and stringed instruments, are depicted.

In 2013, on the ‘Impression Chinese Music’ stage, 100 ancient instruments from 56 categories were recovered and beautifully performed.

CNTO's 2013 production, 'Impression Chinese Music'. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

02 Rediscover Chinese Music

CNTO's 2015 production: 'Rediscover Chinese Music'.[Photo Courtesy of CNTO]

After the success of Impression Chinese Music, President Xi Qiang asked Wang Chaoge if they could produce another concert featuring 10 most influential traditional pieces, in an arranged way. Wang agreed and said, let's call it 'Rediscover Chinese Music'.

The 10 pieces were chosen based on their popularity, appeal and use of traditional Chinese instruments, such as the erhu, the pipa (a four-stringed lute), and the dizi (a bamboo flute). All the pieces were creatively arranged and given a modern twist by Jiang Ying, the composer. With the help of staging, lighting and theatrics, the concert hall is transformed into a world of palaces, pagodas, mountains and deserts, leading the audience on a journey through time.

Unlike a standard concert, where the musicians simply play music, in this show all of the musicians are also dancers and storytellers.

'Ambush from Ten Sides' is one of the ten musical pieces in CNTO's 2015 production, 'Rediscover Chinese Music'. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

'High Mountain and Flowing Water', one of the ten musical pieces in CNTO's 2015 production, 'Rediscover Chinese Music'. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

Aside from its extensive national tours, both productions of Impression and Rediscover Chinese were staged at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, in the US, in 2015. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

03 Xuan Zang's Pilgrimage

Xuan Zang's Pilgrimage. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

'Xuan Zang's Pilgrimage' is CNTO's production in 2017, China's first traditional instrumental drama. It tells a Chinese monk's 17-year-journey to bring Buddhist teachings from India to China in 645AD.

Jiang Ying, the composer and director, explains.

"Why Xuan Zang? Lots of our traditional musical instruments, the pipa, erhu and suona, were introduced to China through the ancient Silk Road, providing a fertile ground for imagination. Then the legend of Xuan Zang occurred to me. It took him 17 years to travel from Xi’an to ancient India for Buddhism scriptures. During his journey, he came across different cultures, music and religions. Also, his spiritual pursuit and devotion to his belief impresses me."

Conductor Ye Cong says it's unlike anything he has conducted before.

"It tells a story. The story is told not by singing but with musical instruments. It differs from both operas and symphonies, yet, it borrows the best parts of them, plus adds multi-media effects. It's a big challenge for any conductor, let's say, how to personify the instruments and let them portray the dramatic conflict. You also have to keep an eye on the stage to adjust your performance to my conducting."

Jiang Ying(L) and the conductor Ye Cong(R). [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

The drama is presented through diverse musical instruments including the dizi, erhu, ruan, Chinese drums, konghou, pipa and guanzi etc. that are capable of showing a number of variables such as the inner emotions of different characters, the demonstrations of conflicts and the fostering of the atmosphere.

Xuan Zang's Pilgrimage. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

Xuan Zang's Pilgrimage. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

Uygur, Kazak and Tajik musicians from Xinjiang and musicians from India are also invited to join the performance, adding an exotic atmosphere to the concert.

Xuan Zang’s Pilgrimage. Uygur, Kazak and Tajik musicians from Xinjiang are also invited to join the performance, adding an exotic atmosphere to the concert. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

Jiang Ying (middle), the composer and director of 'Xuan Zang's Pilgrimage' with musicians from India. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

The whole country rejoicing upon Xuan Zang’s return in 645 AD in the Tang Dynasty. A Tang orchestra without a huqin is restored to portray Tang people, consisting of nearly forty instrumentalists that are played with plucked strings, wind instruments and percussion. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]

Encouraged by their success, President Xi Qiang and his CNTO team are motivated to continue to carry on their mission.

"I hope CNTO lead traditional Chinese music forward with the times. As the leading orchestra in China, we are responsible for cultivating and treasuring musical talents, and creating more music that is proud to reflect our traditions, cultures and timbres."Xi Qiang, CNTO president.

Xi Qiang, president of China National Traditional Orchestra. [Photo courtesy of CNTO]