I don’t love all Chinese music (Chinese opera is a taste I have not yet acquired) but there is plenty online to explore:
- BBC Radio 3 programme on the music of the Yi and Hani ethnic minorities in Yunnan province.
- Sounds of China podcast.
“Rain Falling From the Roof” by Wu Tong: piano & cello ; cello and sheng . More amazing sheng.
I do love the sound of the qin. The scholar playing the qin (one of the four arts) is often depicted in paintings, like this animated introduction. Lots of history and information about qin music. Recordings:
- Flowing Water 流水 is the piece included on the Voyager recording. This version accompanies landscape paintings
- Song of the Water Dragon
- Qin in Beijing 2007 and 2011
Delightful series of period-costumed performances by Zi De Guqin Studio including:
Three hours of continuous music
Marquis Yi of Zeng’s musical bells: performance , video description, more about bianzhong. You can see Chinese bells in the British Museum & Compton Verney.