[WU Tong] Air On the G String: When Sheng Meets J. S. Bach

Extract from "Silkroad Home Sessions with Wu Tong": • SILKROAD | Silkroad Ho...
Last year, I started my attempt to transform this piece into a "sheng" version. By fits and starts, not until during the pandemic did I finish, the “Air on the G String”. Now I would like to share it with everyone. I appreciate this piece in which I feel harmony, elegance, and braveness. And these, I believe, are the qualities we need for today.
#songsofcomfort

[@CreativeImpulse]

Mr. Wu Tong, my grandfather lived to be 89 years old and passed away last night. He was a professional Sheng player, he worked for the Guangzhou Acrobats as one of their pit musicians for many years before his happy retirement. Whenever I hear this instrument I think of him, forever and always. I don't know if this message will reach you in time but I would very much love to have this piece play at my lao ye's funeral next weekend. I'm not sure how permissions work for these things, but if possible, please let me know. Thank you very much for such a beautiful piece.

[@Captain_FixIt]

I'm Sorry for your Loss. Your Grandfather was a good man and Sheng Player & May He Rest In Heaven.

[@broncoxy]

this instrument looks and sounds like a tiny, hand-held organ and I love it

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

It is.

[@LavaGolem65]

This is the most underrated video on youtube.

[@takoyaki_mz_sax]

No, the most underrated video is Kevin Leonardo using nair cream.

[@emblemcc]

the harmonical compexity on one instrument of this size is gorgeous

[@rineric3214]

This is a monumental cultural achievement. Playing Bach is like weaving with colored silk until you create a tapestry of a Rembrandt painting. To do such a thing on an ancient instrument that gives a wind instrument harmonic ability is truly East Meets West. Wu Tong has done the WORLD a great favor. And with such elegant humor! Truly great!

[@marquisdehoto1638]

This instrument is so underrated!

[@samuelfabian9737]

I have often played this piece on the organ, mostly at the beginning of Advent services. But I have never heard it in such a moving way. Thank you very much, Wu Tong!

[@nihilicious42]

BWV 1068 has never sounded better. articulates and expresses it so perfectly-

[@liyue8772]

Thank you, Mr. Wu, for sharing this with us. You opened up a new world to me. I've heard many artists using chromatic scale Sheng to perform western music. This is the most convincing adaption to me. It makes me think that Bach is visiting a Tao temple and enjoying his music played on Sheng. Thank you for putting in so much effort and thoughts into this soul searching performance. You are such a great master!

[@tzyoci]

this post deserves millions of views!

[@rineric3214]

I REALLY want to play sheng someday. Wind chords! What a concept!

[@MusicalBasics]

amazing. i have huge respect for you

[@djtarcm]

Indeed

[@jamesmcgill3268]

Can you imagine this guy used to be the vocal singer of one of the most famous Chinese rock band

[@Amourtendresse]

Incroyable, jamais vu ça, c'est impressionnant. Merci pour ce partage. Je salue la performance. 👏🎶💖🎶

[@altofredwoo]

A great piece, plus a great Chinese instrument. Well done Tong! I love Sheng and will do my best to promote.🤗

[@timothyyoung7132]

Incredible. Blown away by the musician, the instrument and the piece. ❤

[@walterF205]

Never knew about the existence of a musical instrument called sheng. A day ago, following the Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora, I saw that she met the maestro Wu Tong who presented the instrument to her. Interesting sound performance, for me comparable to a complex accordion.

[@indistickney8654]

Utterly mesmerized by the beauty and serenity of your music. Mil gracias.

[@patrickleehebertii6587]

I have never heard a more beautiful performance of this piece than yours Mr. Wu Tong. This is my first time hearing Sheng and I can't believe my ears!

[@alexdarne]

this lovely music has made a flower in my heart bloom, thank you.

[@Slim-sensei]

You have a great grandfather. His music, his way of expression will be together with all the people in the world forever.

[@benjamindeshazo-couchot6394]

Absolutely mesmerizing! Beautifully interpreted and rendered. I will be sure to share this with my students. Thank you!

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

Amazing.

[@giampierobugliarello]

This is amazing!

[@mariadelourdestome4667]

My soul was touched, again 🙏🌎🙋‍♀️

[@うまかし]

感動しました😂 有難うございます！

[@JulienGaudfroy]

好久不见！你这段好别致，好棒。

[@carminlee5623]

Teacher Wu your so good！good！

[@marolis1453]

Gracias por este momento sublime... Lo abrazo con mi corazón

[@roslynaronson8791]

Thsnk you for your unique and soulful music. I was not familiar with the sheng ,but will b e listening more from now on.

[@martinbabb6683]

beautiful

[@edsknife]

I imagine this playing during the final moments of Third Impact.

[@vincenthuang5635]

Then it would be played on a sho

[@Nils-j2t]

WHO would dislike this?

[@sashakindel3600]

The arrangement is clever.

[@featherlessbiped6586]

Brilliant!

[@user-gn2zj6yt9g]

better than original music, this is fuckin masterpiece.

[@MegalopsykhiaLIN]

Great

[@marsinearth1264]

This guy is carrying a pipe organ in hands...😮

[@rwcrux]

amazing

[@HappyLifeInMinecraft]

Love this instrument, i would rly like to see a piano built like this that uses pedals for the air.

[@nolitenemo]

What a beautiful offering. Is there any similarities between the sheng and the rackett? I love your rowdy playing, no one expects the Spanish inquisition. 🐒👑🍑

[@P哲]

感受到了灵魂的波动，谢谢！ 真的很好听很舒服。

[@johnchan8552]

好聽

[@galiciasgone9651]

smart!

[@refinedbrass]

i would love to hear a duet with a french horn

[@vanessanesener4028]

🌹

[@bustahans9978]

This man should have made the memory music in breath of the wild

[@internal.inferno2088]

PLEASE DO "BRIGHT EYES" THAT WOULD BE INSANE!

[@MrJerryTAO]

Sounds like an organ :) --> potential use in religious occasions

[@D_D_L]

Fun fact, it was, sort of, a religious instrument in its early days.

[@tid911]

My man should Bust out with IRON BUTTERFLY, In a Godda fa Vidda.

[@willmyers8600]

Can you share the specs/where you got your sheng instrument?

[@Captain_FixIt]

I think I liked the orchestra Version better.

[@MegalopsykhiaLIN]

如果現在有專門爲笙譜曲的音樂家就好了。

[@munigel3928]

I just wish South Korean understand Sheng is the oldest Chinese instrument from China, Please don't steal it from us after you learn it in China and claim it's Korean traditional instrument.That's just the behaviour of thief.

[@doremi1112]

All koreans know thats chinese😅

[@msruag]

tong wu never said it was a korean instrument 💀and also it's okay to learn about a different culture because without foreigners to a culture the practices wouldn't survive just like languages, people other than the natives need to speak it so the language doesn't die out after evolving.

[@munigel3928]

​@@msruag This famous musician in the video has already reported to the social media that some south korean intended to purchase a huge amount of Sheng from him and by accidentally disclose their true intention was bring Sheng back to South Korean and claim this is Korean instrument. And also, stop justify your culture-copy behaviour as evolving. This is so typical korean behaviour, learn from us, make some small change sometimes even no change, then boom! that's become korean culture LOL. Second, don't overestimate yourself, china is a huge country comprised with 56 nations, we have developed great culture without your korean's "help". We chinese language, our hand writing, our hanfu, our traditional culture can develop and evolve well within ourself and will keep alive without the "care" from south korean. So, bye bye, and never see you again.

[@munigel3928]

@@doremi1112 Of course, because this musician stoped a intended culture appropriation from South korean by reporting to the government years ago, so luckily this instruments is able to be "Chinese". LOL

[@msruag]

@@munigel3928 there isn't any hope for people like you 💀im not responding to this because at this point you're being prejudice "typical korean behavior" as if every single korean says this is a korean instrument 💀god damn you twittards need help