Keeping traditional sounds alive

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Her love for the guzheng grew during her two-year collaboration with Chinese rock singer-songwriter Cui Jian, who invited Fan, then 19, to tour with his band in early 1992.

Cui is credited with introducing Western rock music to Chinese audiences. His song, Nothing to My Name, which was released in 1986, won the former professional trumpet player the title of "godfather of rock 'n' roll".

As part of the collaboration, Fan was invited to perform with the band when Cui embarked on his New Long March tour.

Before the collaboration, Fan, like many young Chinese music lovers, was just a Cui fan.

"I watched his concert at the Capital Indoor Stadium in 1990 and was overwhelmed by his performance. But I didn't think that I would have the opportunity to work with him," says Fan.

She says that she can still recall vividly how when the band performed, the crowds would scream and follow them even after the shows.

"Since I was the youngest and only female member in the band, they (the band members) gave me all the flowers we received," says Fan. "It was crazy."

She also says: "It was a life-changing experience to perform with Cui and the others. They gave me lots of freedom and confidence to play music, such as improvising, which was very different from what I learned at the conservatory.

Then, when she was in her third year at the Central Conservatory of Music, Fan stopped performing with Cui and returned to regular campus life.

Explaining why she did this, she says: "The more I performed with Cui, the more I realized how beautiful the guzheng sounded. So, I wanted to focus on improving my technique and introducing the instrument to a wider audience."

In 1995, Fan joined the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra and became a solo performer with the orchestra.

She then performed solo at the famous Musikverein, also known as the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria, in 1999.

Five years ago, she founded a chamber music group along with colleagues from the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra, including erhu (two-stringed bowed instrument) player Yang Liu and flutist Zhang Hui.

"It's true that traditional Chinese folk music is losing audience share like many traditional art forms.

"I want to offer those who still listen to Chinese folk music traditional and high-quality shows."

If you go

7:30 pm, Aug 6. Forbidden City Concert Hall, inside Zhongshan Park, west of Tian'anmen Square, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-65598285.