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, Hundreds 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.