Rechiming China’s Legendary Bells

10/17/19 • 39 min

From China’s Warring States period more than 2,400 years ago, the Zenghouyi chime bells were unearthed in 1978, the year that marked the start of a new chapter in China’s history. The discovery of the bells revealed a design that had been lost to history and enhanced Chinese musicology. It has witnessed the changes in China over the past 40 years.

Previous Episode

Humble but Beautiful: the Sheng

The sheng is a multi-reed mouth organ that consists of numerous bamboo pipes, varying in length. Some believe that the first shengs were brought to Europe in the 18th century, and enlightened the invention of western reed instruments. In this episode, you will hear heartwarming sounds and music from the famous sheng master, Wu Tong. He will lead us on a journey toward an enlightened understanding of not only the sheng’s history but also its uniqueness as an instrument of China’s ancient royalty.

Next Episode

Nails of the Royal Court

The guzheng, also known as a Chinese zither, is a Chinese plucked string instrument with more than 2,500-year history. Today and in the following episodes, let's explore the Chinese 21string-zither with Ms. Zhang Lu, a celebrated instrumentalist from China National Traditional Orchestra. Music lists: 1. The Wandering Songstress 2. High Mountain and Flowing Water 3. Battling the Typhoon