Celebrating a land of wonder and music

A violin, an instrument cherished for centuries in the heart of Europe, finds itself nestled in a Mongolian yurt, resonating with the soulful strains of a horsehead fiddle.

The unexpected pairing is the heart of Echoes of Strings, a documentary that premiered in Shanghai on March 29, weaving together the legacies of Italy and China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region through the unifying language of music.

The documentary follows the journey of Luca Stradivari, heir to a celebrated Italian family of violin makers, and Usgal, a musician from Inner Mongolia carrying the torch of traditional music.

Their unlikely meeting takes place in the vast and breathtaking landscape of Inner Mongolia, where their instruments, though distinct in origins, harmonize to create a vibrant tapestry of sound.

"I always wanted to go to Inner Mongolia since I was a child," shares Stradivari, revealing his lifelong fascination with the land and its culture. "When (director) Hasier contacted me and mentioned Inner Mongolia, I said I want to go and explore this."

Their collaboration transcends mere musical fusion, delving into the depths of cultural exchange. The film captures the essence of nomadic life, showcasing the unique bond between humans and nature that defines Mongolian culture.

"We are trying to preserve our way of life, how we adapt to nature, not change it," explains Wu Rina, a folk singer and a national-level folk song inheritor of her Ewenki ethnic group and professor at the Minzu University of China, as she spoke at the premiere as a guest speaker. "The film beautifully captures this, the way we live with the land and the animals."

The film delves into the unique spirit of Mongolian music, highlighting its inherent link to nature and the interconnectedness of all things. This resonated with Stradivari's own spiritual journey.

"I was a Taoist, but now I have a broader vision," he says. "I really like playing music with them, a local band full of nice people. Beyond the music, it's nice to share these experiences together, like drinking and listening to music, a unifying experience through sound. The sound is international."

The film showcases how the ancient melodies of Mongolian long songs blend seamlessly with Stradivari's violin, revealing new dimensions within both musical styles.

"It's still a very local and traditional feeling, the feeling of the prairie," Stradivari says, reflecting on the unique soundscape of the horsehead fiddle. "While the violin is more connected to physics, the horsehead fiddle is more natural, a natural sound, a natural construction."

This intermingling of musical styles represents a potent metaphor for the broader cultural dialogue that the film champions. It emphasizes the idea that true cultural exchange isn't about imposing one culture upon another, but rather about finding points of resonance and commonality.

"I think there are many different keys to understand this documentary," Stradivari says. "It can be seen as a study of ethnomusicology, an Italian searching for spirituality in Inner Mongolia, or a young director promoting his own culture. It's up to the audience to decide."

The film's director, Hasier, underscores this point. "I believe that true cultural exchange isn't about 'you teach me, I learn', but rather about inspiring each other's creativity," he says.

As the film highlights the interconnectedness of humans and nature, it has been hailed as a medium to promote the ESG (environmental, social and governance) concept by the biomedicine sector.

"The natural setting, the environment, are highly relevant to the ESG concept," says Clarissa Shen, secretary-general of the ESG Committee for the National Biomedicine Enterprise Platform, a leading advocate for sustainability in the industry. "The film beautifully captures the harmony between human activity and the environment."

The documentary aims to ignite a conversation around environmental stewardship, said Shen, who acts as chief ESG adviser for the film, at a salon event following the documentary's premiere, during which Stradivari performed When We ESG, a song that encapsulates the core values of sustainable development.

Luo Bin contributed to this story.