Masterpieces of Chinese Music: A Musical Performance by Music from China

Learn more about the exhibition Eccentric Visions: The Worlds of Luo Ping (1733-1799), on view at the Met October 6, 2009-January 10, 2010: tinyurl.com/luoping
The rich sonorities and compelling melodies of Chinese music are invoked on string instruments consisting of the erhu and related two-string fiddles, pipa (lute), zheng (long, plucked zither), ruan (moon guitar), and yangqin (hammered dulcimer). The ensemble Music from China performs masterworks from the Chinese classical and folk repertoire with an array of stylistic variations, timbral colors, and musical imagery. The program includes such immortal classical compositions as Ambush on Ten Sides, a powerful re-creation of a third-century battle scene, and the romance with nature of A Moonlit River in Spring. Folk music selections span China's broad landscape, from the urban sophistication of Shanghai and Guangzhou (Canton) to the vast expanse of the Mongolian steppes.

[@kirsten9005]

9:02 “Thunder in Dry Days” 12:22 “Melody of Purple Bamboo” 18:34 “Fisherman’s song of dusk” 27:50 “Crescent Moon in the Dawn” 35:24 “Autumn Moon Over a Tranquil Lake” 39:08 “Birds in the Forest” 45:55 “Variation of Yangguan” 54:23 “Ravens in the Winter Waters” 1:03:35 “On the Grassland” 1:11:01 “Mongolian Horse Race Song”

[@roshanL4990]

Thank you

[@steshleystar8526]

You are a life saver.

[@noahkellogg3]

you are so clutch

[@lovelyvibez3573]

What is this?

[@Shrekswatch]

Thank you 👏🏾

[@wongkhk]

So beautiful. This music brings tears to my eyes. My father was a very hard working immigrant that moved to Canada to give his family a better life. When he wasn't working or spending time with us, he enjoyed playing the yangqin with his pals in a classical Chinese music group at the Chinese cultural centre in Winnipeg. He passed away far too young.

[@forstorage]

I am sure those music brought him consolations. Chinese people are great in the sense that when hardship comes, they would rather overwork than to rob/steal wealth from others.

[@silafuyang8675]

You have a Western name. You have broken all the bonds to you own culture. I pity such as you.

[@wongkhk]

si lafuyang I have both -- a very traditional Chinese name as well as a Western name.

[@wongkhk]

si lafuyang I pity such as you, that thinks that the bonds to one's culture are so superficial that words and names can affect that which resides in the heart and soul.

[@silafuyang8675]

+Kenneth Wong The outside corresponds to the inside and vice versa.

[@Blue-dt8wj]

1，旱天雷 Thunder in dry days 2，紫竹调 Melody of purple bamboo 3，渔歌唱晚 Fisherman's song of dusk 4，月牙五更 Cresentmoon in the dawn 5，平湖秋月 Autumn moon over calm lake 6，阳关三叠 Variation of Yangguan 7，寒鸦戏水 Ravens in the winter waters 8，草原上 on the grassland 9，赛马 Horse racing

[@michaellibonati8354]

Cui Ying

[@tonychung2418]

Cui Ying 多謝你

[@wingl7490]

Cui Ying.

[@wingl7490]

Cui Ying chinese

[@wingl7490]

tony chung.

[@frankstola9854]

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ENTIRE 58 YEAR LIFE I HEARD ACTUAL NATIVE CHINESE MUSIC BY A CHINESE MUSICIAN ON A REAL CHINESE INSTRUMENT IN THE NEARBY GCT NYC---AS A MUSICIAN I WAS OVERWHELMED---THE ARTIST KNEW AND LAUGHED---WHAT WE NEVER HEARD OR SEEN I WAS GIVEN THE GIFT TO EXPERIENCE---I WANT MORE---IT WAS LIKE A CLASSICAL MUSICIAN PLAYING A STRADIVARUIS----HUMBLY MISTER FRANK MARCO POLO THE SECOND STOLA

[@PhillDrakeEntertainment]

They really showing their power and wisdom of their country. Hindu music is so bright! :D

[@frankstola9854]

THANX MISTER FRANK STOLA

[@SteveRomigsongwriter]

Astounding stuff. These instruments are so difficult to play and it's wonderful seeing them played so artfully. I just bought an Erhu and the first thing i did was break a string.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Me and my sister are going on board Titanic 2 in 3 class

[@MrEtrusquan]

0

[@steveli3163]

小时候不懂，现在长大了才学会理解和欣赏我们自己的文化。 I did not get it how great our culture really is until I become a grown-up.

[@acidjoker2476]

Gosh I love traditional Chinese music

[@e.g.8060]

Me too! I wish I could find more of this proper traditional Chinese music on here, and less of the new-age crap (seriously, piano? in ancient music?? I don't think so)

[@BigPrice24]

what a masterpiece. I'm so glad things like this exist

[@abejohn877]

or are they

[@mcburney1234]

im a fan of traditional folk music from around the globe but Chinese has to be by far my favorite!

[@srr5672]

Mine as well Matt.

[@zirak93]

mine too & music from middle east. east asian music rocks :D

[@addisonjohnson5]

This guy starting off might be skilled at something, but it is certainly not oratory

[@addisonjohnson5]

8:50 is where the music starts, you're not really missing much before that

[@LamHoWai-cq6xg]

@@addisonjohnson5 thank you 😀

[@photosbyjb007]

As a beginner in the appreciation of Chinese Classical Music this a wonderful sound and so relaxing.

[@MrCortar]

Had this playing while I was doing my homework, helped me concentrate on my studies.

[@cymtk]

it occurs to me that songs in this style, when beginning slowly, sound a lot like the beginning of rainfall. Love it.

[@jssherrard]

Beautiful. The fisherman’s song brought tears of joy to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your talent with the rest of us!

[@xxxYYZxxx]

Just amazing. As a Western raised on rock & pop music & ubiquitous jazz & Western classical themes, this music invokes genuine awe in a way familiar music simply couldn't, like an alien landing on Earth and discovering music for the first time.

[@MsSimsBuilder]

im so stoked on the dude in blue. he's chilling, noided as hell, & having a blast. the entire group played so breathtakingly and im just stoked man,,

[@rosabellino958]

“Listening To the sounds of my youth Tears silently fall” Rosa Bellino

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

Wonderful. A great find on KZbin, many thanks for making it available.

[@futuretrunks9100]

Full ensemble starts at 9:00 enjoy! :)

[@MH-rj3jf]

+Daniel Firestarter Thanks, I needed that!

[@tr4nsd0n4ld3]

Future Trunks my vagina exploded today and my uterus flung out and smacked my grandma in the face

[@flaviamar628]

Thanks bro😊

[@yougetonthathorseyougottar6126]

@@tr4nsd0n4ld3 Get help

[@adosouma]

Tr4ns D0n4ld *well then-*

[@vet2640]

Simply excellent, visited China in 2007, just prior to the Olympics, our tour began in Beijing and ended in Macao, just loved the music, food, culture and history of China.

[@jcortese3300]

I love erhus -- a much subtler, more covered and warm sound than a violin.

[@nemokaka]

Janis Cortese in fact erhus is often used to express sadness.

[@777fiddlekrazy]

Janis Cortese I agree! I had to get one of these after hearing it. especially when it takes on such a Female voice. The Guzheng is also a Beautiful instrument. Though I am not very good at either one they both are very soothing. truth is, if you can arrange, recognize and repeat patterns, attune emotionally and put it all together, you can make music with little proficiency. Now Make some Music! :-)

[@tdn93077]

This is one of the most skilled ensembles i think i have ever heard. their musicality and skill is mind-blowing. the music performed was so intricate and beautiful. an amazing performance.

[@normlor8109]

being Euroasian, I have always loved this music whenever I was taken to Chinatown by my Dad, and now on here I can appreciate this whenever I please. thank you for a wonderful performance

[@purmer26]

My first encounter with music with a Chinese twist was years ago, listening often to Mahler's Das Lied von Erde A Canadian-Chinese forumbuddy put me on the Kdrama-track 6 years ago, and watching some very good historical Korean drama´s actually put me on the Chinese music. ( There are some very beautiful scenes in series that play in the Tang-period, including the appropriate dancing at the palace ) In drama "Dong Yi", the Korean sister of the erhu, the haegeum, plays a prominent role, giving the full impact of what these ancient instruments can do.

[@jayare2744]

Thank you MET, for sharing this with people who can't travel to, or afford tickets to, these wonderful exhibitions!

[@scottmatheson2390]

This is so beautiful to listen to.I find all kinds of ancient music possesses that depth of awareness of not only the mystery and beauty of the universe but also of the land on which they lived and died.We in the modern world will never again attain the purity of expression inherent in this music.Still it's great that we can experience some of this timeless enchantment.

[@surendrasonar6275]

I agree with you Scott Matheson.

[@CockatooDude]

I am not so convinced. I like this music too but I don't think it's inherently better than any other music. Music made by anyone from any time period has the capability to do what you say, it all depends on who's listening.

[@gabriel55259]

You are right. We should all collect traditional music from all around the world and listen to them A LOT.

[@emersongene1]

Thanks so much for your wonderful explanations and the most beautiful music. In a little more than an hour we learn and feel the true spirit of Chinese traditional music. Bravo!

[@kelana67]

Awesome music! Thanks for this great MV! The Chinese lady, who herself a musician playing the 'da ruan' (big moon guitar) instrument, speaks a very fluent English with excellent articulation (at least as a foreign speaker IMO), and she explains at lengthy each of the instrument..interesting for listeners like me who is totally blank, appreciate the efforts :-)

[@musfazahosein7463]

Having been to China last year, I have greater appreciation for Chinese music and cilture.

[@alanparis8390]

Actually, if you listen very carefully, she has a slight New York accent!

[@wny488]

Beautiful music, simply beautiful. I hope we can preserve all these sounds for all time.

[@bree_ochebun1969]

I am awestruck! Amazing artists and beautiful composition. This music is inspiring and tranquil. Thank you!

[@mwnts2no]

This is so well presented with magnificent explanations first and then such exquisitely performed musical stories put forth. Such age-old instruments! How fascinating. Thank you.

[@haroldmarshall925]

I am having one of my lifes experience watching and listening to the Cinese people perform. I never knew such tallent exist. I love the effort they put into their performances. Magnifencent!

[@pjz2007]

Loved it. Thank you Met Museum for such a great cultural exhibit!

[@jksynth]

That is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.

[@violng4323]

意境高遠，樂韻迷人 ! …Great music, beautiful !

[@violng4323]

草原上，一望空濶，萬里無雲，風吹草低見牛羊 ! 策馬飛馳，豪邁奔放，無拘無束，自由自在 ! …On the grassland,wonderful !

[@poetuliradiant]

I just love traditional chinese music.Respect from Romania!

[@Itxazoa]

Interesting. Very beautiful and relaxing. The explanation part makes it even better. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you for sharing.

[@t.r.mcpherson748]

I love traditional and cultural music from across the world, everything from uillleann pipes of Ireland and Pibroch, Scottish Highland pipe music to Mongol and Tuvan throat singing and Koto music from Japan, Erhu from China and Native American flute to Hindi sitar and hammered dulcimer Arabian music. Chant from Russian Orthodox monks to didgeridoo of the Aboriginals from Australia. Music is a universal language.

[@tomaraya6600]

i usually listen to rock and metal music. this is my first introduction in to chinese music. beautiful...

[@garylefevers]

Agreed

[@LovingSpaces]

Lovely emotional music that portray nature at its best. loving all of them, what a wonderful ensemble of just 5 string instruments

[@josefx1389]

Such powerful and evocative music. Thank you for this wonderful performance.

[@BoguslavSL]

Extraordinarily beautiful and culture filled. Thank you

[@gurujackburton]

My buddy Wang Chi used to always try to make me listen to this kind of music when we were playing Heaven and Earth while drinking Tsingtao in San Fran. He never could beat me, I ended getting a few thousand dollars off of him on one game, but there was this whole massive brawl and a bunch of gang bangers tried to steal his woman, and it was one headache after another, now he married her and has a bunch of kids, and we never play anymore. I miss those days.

[@laurencemark3398]

Haha hi jack hows the truck

[@gurujackburton]

laurence mark Damn fine, thanks for asking:) . The Pork Chop Express now has GPS, LoJack, and alarm system. Also, some years back Egg Shen put some crazy Chinese magic spell on it, so I don't think it will get stolen again in the near future, either by gang banging punks or supernatural Asian warriors, flying around on wires cutting everyone to ribbons. Strange days back then.

[@laurencemark3398]

Jack Burton as long as the pork chop is still running there aint nothing to worry about

[@therespooponmylips8461]

Jack Burton theres always gotta be gangbangers in all your stories jack

[@gurujackburton]

ASAP Danny Gangsters I'm ok with, it's all that supernatural stuff that I hate. It's easy to shoot a gangster, because it's all in the reflexes. But killing a ghost or demon or something crazy like that, man, that is no picnic I can tell ya. There was this one time when I was hauling a load to Little Saigon, you know over in Orange County? Anyways, long story short, after dropping off my load, I stopped in bar for a drink. Well I got in this argument with this fella who I thought was just some punk, turned out to be some weird vampire mutant, and the whole thing turned into this huge mess and a brewery exploded, and there was this beer tsunami, and I couldn't get the smell of beer off of the Pork Chop Express for an entire year. But when you are in a situation like that when Death has your back is against the wall and threatening you with death by beer? That's when you stare ol' Death right back in the eye and say "You better make mine a double".

[@JosephStern]

This is wonderful. So glad I came across it. Thanks for uploading!

[@oni741]

I love these instruments, especially guzheng.

[@ashleyjones2798]

Ashley, Period 2 I admire the dedication of all of the musicians and their commitment to the instruments.

[@jasonreed1352]

The solo at 40:49 is exquisite. I think it is my favorite solo ever. This music is amazing!

[@w00716761]

Like the explanation of each instrument! and the music of course

[@bluerose9162]

I want to learn how to play the erhu someday. It is such a beautiful instrument in sound and looks.

[@milocavaliere8828]

have you taken any steps yet?

[@ultramegatrion]

Tell me of politics and I will always ignore you... tell me of CULTURE and I will ALWAYS listen.....

[@accordiongordon]

But politics are important, like it or not

[@JBrooksNYS]

Politics are part of a culture

[@robertmortensen7282]

Pretty sure they meant all politicians are lying pieces of sh$t

[@ClueFinderDirtDigger]

I can't even express how beautiful I find this to be.. thank you so much for sharing it.

[@cyruscruz90]

forward to 9:00 to hear music! although the explanations at the beginning are also informative.

[@jamezramoth3154]

gotta love the spirits flowing through each note....

[@zopaseah4982]

really good. wonderful Chinese traditional instruments sound they offer. tks v much for upload. so good, these musicians.

[@aqsafarooque4623]

Gosh this is so amazing I can't stop myself listening ths again and again

[@EnkiNudimmud]

No words ....thanks for this.

[@hsusophia3382]

奇怪! 為什麼在台灣都還未看個這樣棒的表演? 沒關係 現在滿足啦! 謝謝!

[@AlejanderLong]

在新竹会有表演的啊，每年都有国乐表演

[@user-sg4zg5ue7s]

How beautiful the pieces are! I like them.

[@jongabalis5964]

loved the intro explaining all the instruments!

[@noahkellogg3]

My guy made the erhu neigh!!! Absolute stud

[@allyouneedisbohr]

very nice, i can imagine landscapes and faces through this music

[@iRonlMoNKleY]

This is just amazing. Thank-you.

[@caiquecabelo5536]

great concert! thanks for sharing

[@Davccelion]

I thank very much for the explanations. I already knew some of the pieces played, but it's been very instructive to know more about them, their origins and the differences of certain instruments.

[@Janka007]

It's so engaging, I couldn't stop watching it. Amazing musicians, congratulations! :)

[@MrGer2295]

WONDERFUL!!! Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@delfinocruzmartinez1072]

Soy mexicano, apasionanado de mi musica, estas notas orientales me hacen recorrer a oriente y profundizarme tambien en sus raices... muchas gracias

[@khootn]

Thank you for uploading!

[@tomislavkablaric1797]

oh how wonderful,absolutely fabulous music...

[@jiwenwang7000]

I’m Chinese and that music 🎼 is wonderful

[@user-me7mm7gr1p]

So beautiful. Love chinese tradtional music

[@ramkumarnani12]

Its really beautifull, soothing, hats of to its ancient culture .......

[@zirak93]

Chinese traditional music is really beautiful. thanks for these masterpieces. :)

[@peshangahmed2484]

when muhamad safadin is what you have but you are more related to the Chinese tradition

[@NFTeve]

Im in LOVE with this music. For me , its very healing to the soul

[@petrilaakso7927]

I drop tears every time I listen in to this

[@MissGABRIELLA00]

Such a great performance !!! Bravo !

[@1Krasnaya]

Magnificent, relaxing. the musicians are real orofesionales.

[@Bobthebuilder65082]

this is very good. i've never truly listened to chinese music but i like it. i clicked on this video because i say all those string instruments and i play guitar and the upright bass. I LOVE STRING INSTRUMENTS.

[@garylefevers]

Simply enchanting.

[@jadenhoneywood5073]

I find any music that's not from my own country is amazing!

[@wjh5144]

Wow! Great music. Great performance.

[@gloriabrittes6229]

Wonderful music......beauty.....purity....feelings....art.....

[@juniorapatino6192]

love the incite on each instrument

[@raymondfallon7429]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@pearldrummer1293]

so i really like the history of china i love there music and there values.. this really can calm my anxiety which means alot to me.

[@jercun33]

I like your comment, but you misspelled "their". :)

[@optiTHOMAS]

This is simply amazing!!!

[@averageChoom]

just BEAUTIFUL..

[@sampleOG]

amazing sound!!! been a fan of Sakamoto's Last Emperor S'track for many years and now want to find more music like it

[@kakadanlojmesuishietsu3749]

Phases of the moon. Very beautiful songs.

[@meedyy99]

Aside from the music I'm glad about the introduction of the instruments!

[@JustCallMeSuzie]

Absolutely beautiful

[@Gridluster]

Such remarkable and beautiful instruments.

[@pdxie]

It is so wonderful to be able to enjoy artistry from such a talented, masterful Chinese Instrument Ensemble in North America. Beautiful music beautifully performed. The Huqin player is fantastic. Of the four instruments he demonstrated, I have to say that the more modern "Ban Hu" is my least liked - its sound seems similar to that of the violin, but feels more harsh and strident.

[@mwyang4188]

Beautiful music

[@SlyHikari03]

These look so fun to play imo.

[@yadiraalbornoz3046]

Simply beautiful!

[@RiccardoLovatini]

fantastic music and fantastic players! thanks you

[@ajkugan]

I bow to the music...its just beautiful

[@user-rr9fk5bk9l]

太讚了．．不知不覺淚流滿面．．．．．．

[@devanpro425]

i went to a chinese circus and i loved the traditional they were playing thanks for uploading this