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Silk and Bamboo music, the gugin and Pingtan music

World RoutesWorld Routes in China
Episode 3 of 3

Lucy Duran travels to Shanghai to find out what remains of traditional Chinese music in this booming metropolis. Music includes a session by one of Shanghai's best guqin players.

Lucy Duran travels to Shanghai to find out what remains of traditional Chinese music in this booming metropolis. Music recorded on location includes a session by one of Shanghai's best guqin players, who performs on an instrument dating from the 13th century, a group of pensioners who are struggling to preserve the beautiful sound of silk and bamboo, and a performance of Pingtan from the city of Suzhou.

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1 hour

Last on

Sat 9 Aug 200815:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music and featured items

  • Disappearing culture

    Lucy learns that a form of storytelling music called 'pingtan' is disappearing.

    Duration: 06:24

  • Music Played

    • Local Suzhou performers

      unknown

      • BBC Recording.

  • Pingtan performance

    We hear an extract of pingtan performed at a theatre in Suzhou.

    Duration: 11:38

  • Music Played

    • Suzhou City Pingtan Troop

      unknown

      • BBC Recording.

    • Suzhou City Pingtan Troop

      Unknown

      • BBC Recording.

  • Silk music and the gugin

    Lucy talks about how silk has produced some of China's most beautiful music.

    Duration: 06:33

  • Music Played

    • Mr Lin Youren

      The drunken fisherman

      • BBC Recording.

  • The gugin

    Mr Lin demonstrates the gugin and talks about the Cultural Revolution.

    Duration: 11:45

  • Music Played

    • Mr Lin Youren

      unknown

      • BBC Recording.

  • Background to silk and bamboo music

    Anxi explains the background of silk and bamboo music.

    Duration: 11:10

  • Music Played

    • unknown

      unknown silk and bamboo music

      • BBC Recording.

    • unknown

      unknown silk and bamboo music

      • BBC Recording.

  • Chinese bamboo flute and changes to the gugin

    Dai Wei tells Lucy about the changes in playing the gugin due to outside influences.

    Duration: 11:08

  • Music Played

    • Mr Dai

      unknown

      • BBC Recording.

    • Mr Dai and Dai Wei

      Plumb Tree Blossom

      • BBC Recording.

Broadcast

  • Sat 9 Aug 200815:00
    BBC Radio 3

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