Ancient instrument makes comeback in modern world

During the concert, Nie also played a piece titled Like You and Me, joined by accordion player Han Yirui. The piece was composed by Robert Zollitsch, a German ethnomusicologist who has spent his career studying Mongolian, Chinese and Tibetan classical music, fusing Asian and European influences. Zollitsch wrote the composition for the two instruments after learning that they were related — a sheng taken to Europe in the 1770s helped stimulate the invention of instruments using free reeds, such as the accordion.

"I am very excited that audiences enjoyed the concert, which lasted for 2 hours and 40 minutes. Some contacted me after the concert, asking questions about the sheng," says Nie, who plans to take his act to more Chinese cities next year.

The sheng was not the first musical instrument that Nie learned.

Nie, who was born in a small village near Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, was introduced to various traditional Chinese musical instruments as a child thanks to his family, which had a long-standing musical reputation in his hometown — the family would often be asked to play together at parties, ceremonies, funerals and weddings in nearby villages.

At 5 years old, Nie started to play the suona with his father. "It was natural for me to learn the suona, and many other instruments used in the family band. I never felt bored playing them and I enjoyed going to various performances with my family, which always captured people's interest," recalls Nie. "My family has a repertoire of musical pieces passed down from older generations and I learned them as a child. They heavily influenced me and even today, I can remember them."

At 10 years old, Nie was selected to join a folk band in Jingxing county, which performed for the local dance troupe that specialized in Jingxing Lahua, a unique folk dance from the county featuring performers in bright costumes holding various props with symbolic meanings, such as vases for peace and umbrellas for a good harvest.

"I could play all the musical instruments used in the band except the sheng so I decided to learn it," says Nie.