Ancestor of the Piano: the Yangqin

06/02/19 • 28 min

Chords of China

What does the ancestor of the piano sound and look like? Find out on Chords of China.

What does the ancestor of the piano sound and look like? Find out on Chords of China.

Previous Episode

The Sound of Common People: The Huqin

Erhu is a daily accompaniment to the lives of a great many Chinese people. It is the most common member of the huqin, which is a family of Chinese bowed string instruments. In this episode, you will hear heartbreaking erhu music “The Moon over a Fountain” and the story behind this famous piece. Huqin instrumentalist Zhang Xuguang will lead us to the music world of huqin.

Next Episode

The Commander of an Ensemble: The Drum

The drum might be as old as the Chinese history itself. According to recorded legend, ceramic drums appeared in the farthest reaches of antiquity. Drums have been part of almost every aspect of Chinese social life, including life at court, in religious ceremonies, in farming, and during war. The percussionist Zhu Jianping from the China National Traditional Orchestra joined us to talk about how he's combining the traditional sound of the Chinese drums with modern elements to keep it vibrant and relevant today.