China Media Group (CMG) has made a music video "Heart to Heart" for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, and released it on Saturday. It was the world's first piece of work played by guzhengs – a kind of box zither in East Asian countries – of five countries: China, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea and Vietnam in combination.
The music is based on the folk music of Zhejiang and displays the musical characteristics and playing skills of all five countries. Its unique rhythm draws a vivid picture of Hangzhou as a mixture of old traditions and modern civilizations.
Heart to Heart is composed of three parts: the charm of Hangzhou, the energy of Hangzhou and the homeland of dreams.
"We want to play Chinese guzheng as a call for the Asian guzhengs to assemble," Li Lei, composer of the work, told CMG. "Everybody will talk to each other and sing together in ensemble."
Night view of Hangzhou, host city of the 19th Asian Games, east China's Zhejiang Province. /CMG
Chinese guzheng performer Liu Le believes the music is a combination of the musical languages of top performers from different countries, a cultural blend in the music area and a new attempt at an ensemble of different Asian musical instruments.
"Heart to Heart is a piece of work that combines different guzhengs of five Asian countries," composer Kaori Ishimoto of Japan said. "It is the music that blends Asia while its magnificent melody reflects virtues and features of different countries."
Composer Lee Ji-hye told CMG that she hopes this piece of work can become an opportunity for Asian countries to communicate more in the music area. She also looks forward to meeting other composers in person and performing together.
Mongolian composer Solongo Gankhuyag said it's an honor to work with composers from other countries to perform this music for the Asian Games.
Vietnamese composer Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen told CMG that she felt very proud to, on behalf of her country's artists, perform with composers from other Asian countries and share the beauty of different cultures.
(Cover photo: China Media Group's music video "Heart to Heart" for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. /CMG)