Breaking musical boundaries

"Also, though I have encountered all the instruments found in The Shadow of Water before, this particular combination is unique for me."

The China Bamboo Flute Orchestra, which Zhang launched in 2012 and in which there are about 25 young Chinese traditional instrumentalists, will be part of the concert.

Since 2012, the orchestra has been performing concerts of premiering new compositions for traditional Chinese musical instruments.

Besides The Shadow of Water by Hoffman, the concert will also premiere works including Lake View for 10 bamboo flutes by Liang Lei; Cold Ferry for 10 bamboo flutes, guzheng, pipa and percussion instruments and Mottled for xiao (vertical bamboo flute), big flute, guzheng and the orchestra, composed by Yang Qing, a teacher at the China Conservatory of Music.

Two of Zhang's compositions, Flowing Water and Drifting Clouds for eight bamboo flutes, guzheng, erhu, pipa and vibraphone; and Rime for female vocalists, guzheng, vibraphone and eight bamboo flutes, will also be premiered at the concert.

Speaking about the importance of the concert, Zhang, 61, who was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and started to learn to play bamboo flute at the age of 8, says: "New materials are crucial for the development of traditional Chinese musical instruments. The eight works sound oriental and contemporary, which breaks the stereotype of traditional Chinese folk music as it is portrayed traditionally onstage or on screen,"

Incidentally, Zhang plays a wide range of Chinese flutes, but his artistry is not limited to his instruments. And, he is also focuses on improving the instruments and finding new sounds.