Singing across the centuries
Artist's exploration of Yuan Dynasty genre brings the popular side of ancient culture to modern life, Chen Nan reports.
On the album, Gong pushes the boundaries of artistry, experimenting with a variety of regional operatic styles.
"Through this yuanqu series, I want to work with different forms of Chinese opera, like Qinqiang Opera and Yuju Opera," she says. "I hope these songs will be as widely sung as the lyrics from the Yuan Dynasty."
One standout track on the album is Twelve Butterflies, a piece by Yuan Dynasty poet Zhao Yan. Gong's rendition marks her debut at pingtan — a traditional art form that blends singing and storytelling in the Suzhou dialect. Adding a fresh twist, she collaborates with Sheng Xiaoyun, a renowned pingtan artist, resulting in a rich, cross-generational fusion of past and present.
Another track, Idle Joy, adapted from a sanqu by Guan Hanqing, injects humor and liveliness into the album. With lines like "he brought a pair of chickens, I brought a goose. Idle joy, idle joy", the playful tone of the lyrics finds counterpoint in a blend of reggae rhythms and traditional Chinese poetry. Gong's singing and producer Chen Junwu's arrangement infuses a carefree energy into the song in a joyful nod to the simple pleasures of life.
Meanwhile, Forget Your Worries Tune, based on a piece by Bai Pu, combines the poignant lyrics of a Yuan Dynasty song with the musical style of Kunqu Opera. Gong says that the song resonates deeply with her, its introspective message urging the listener to release their worries.
