During the Spring Festival, traditional Chinese instruments often take center stage. Young musicians are fusing the old with the new, using these ancient instruments to share new year greetings, while honoring those who played them in the past. We meet with the performers who are helping to keep these timeless sounds alive.
Combining traditional folk music with pop and rock music is giving these young musicians millions of fans on the internet. This year, they got the opportunity to step onto the stage of the Spring Festival Web Gala to bring joy and laughter to an audience around the world.
Zheng Fangnan, has been able to introduce the Suona, a Chinese traditional instrument, to 3 million fans.
ZHENG FANGNAN Suona Player "The suona is a very distinctive and dynamic instrument. It has a wide range, so it can interpret many styles. Recently, we've been playing a lot of electronic music and pop music. We can clearly feel that after the short video platforms went viral, traditional Chinese culture has also witnessed a development boom."
Chu Qiguizi is the inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of the sanxian, a traditional musical instrument mainly used for accompanying Chinese operas. She changed the way of playing this instrument from sitting to standing. Now the elegant instrument is ready for rock and roll. Many people have got to know her through her unique style, though it was not easy at first.
CHU QIGUIZI Sanxian Player "After graduating from university, I started music training, but I found that there were very few students, which indicates that people don't know much about this instrument. After we posted these fun videos on social media, some comments said that our ancestors wouldn't mind because at least it has been passed down. Although it's a joke, is also a kind of recognition for us."
For these professional musicians, the real charm of traditional instruments still lies in their classical repertoires.
ZHENG FANGNAN Suona Player "We can't abandon traditional things. Our creations should be based on inheriting traditions. I hope that after people get to know these instruments through short videos, they can take a look at the real treasures of our ancestors."
Chinese traditional musical instruments have accompanied the Chinese people's lives for thousands of years. Thanks to these young musicians, they are getting closer to us again.
Guo Tianqi, CGTN, Beijing.