Concert spotlights strength and charm of suona repertoire

The concert

Resounding Red Classics

was held in Beijing on Dec 8, led by Zhang Qianyuan, the associate professor of

suona

(a traditional Chinese wind instrument) at the China Conservatory of Music and a PhD candidate in musicology, and performed by students and teachers of the

suona

major of the conservatory.

The concert focused on showcasing the strength and charm of

suona

chamber music compositions and performances.

“This concert is one of the few performances entirely based on

suona

repertoire,” said Zhang, noting that the music piece,

Hero’s Dream

, was also performed for the first time in an instrumental version.

According to Zhang,

suona

music is rooted in Chinese soil and is an important part of Chinese traditional music culture. With its rich tone and artistic appeal, it has become a widely recognized folk instrument.

Another highlighting piece is

Maritime Silk Road

, composed by Lei Huanran, which intertwines the distinctive sounds of the

suona

,

sheng

(a traditional wind instrument), and traditional percussion instruments.

”

Suona

was introduced in China along the ancient Silk Road. It has developed its unique Chinese characteristics over thousands of years on Chinese soil, becoming an integral part of Chinese traditional music,” Zhang added.

Additionally, she co-composed the piece

Morning Drums and Evening Gongs

with Lei and Liang Huan, which reflects the culture of Beijing’s

hutong

(small alleys).

She concluded the concert with the classic piece,

H


undreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix

.

As part of her doctoral research, Zhang collects different types of

suona

instruments during her performances abroad, learning from local artists about their unique techniques and folk tunes. Since 2022, she has been touring the country with a solo concert series, showcasing the charm of the Chinese

suona

alongside

suona

instruments from various countries.