Chinese sheng plays the tune of harmony

Wu Tong (left) performs with Zhao Wei (right) on the press conference at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center on Dec 20, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

He invited Zhao Wei, a member of the rock bank Lunhui to perform with him. The sound of sheng naturally accompanied Zhao's guitar. Two instruments played in impressive harmony in the small hall where they played.

"Unlike the other musical instruments which can fully express the emotion in the music, say violin and erhu, they could passionately perform the music. But the sheng's sound is very straight and seems to keep a distance between the listener and the music itself, expressing the music in a moderate and graceful way. I always felt regret for playing an instrument that cannot fully and passionately perform music.

Only when I read the description of sheng in Sheng Fu (an article written by Zhang Yong of the Song Dynasty 960-1279) did I realize that the beauty of sheng just lies in its moderation and elegance when expressing emotions. The straight but not stiff, easy-going but never flattering character of sheng echoes the morality of junzi (Chinese Confucian gentleman)", said Wu.

He quoted one poem in Shi Jin (The Book of Songs) that depicts the joyous scene of a king inviting his ministers, in which the sheng is mentioned. Wu believed that the reason why sheng rather than other "noisy" instruments was used at the king's banquet is that the sheng's character symbolizes the manner recommended by Chinese traditional culture.