Performance Repertoire
Featured guzheng works performed in concert and cultural settings, showcasing the artistic range, musical sensitivity, and contemporary presentation of the guzheng.
Yun Chang Su 云裳诉
Yun Shang Su 《云裳诉》, composed by Zhou Yuguo, is a lyrical and expressive work for the guzheng that draws on the distinctive musical language and emotional depth of traditional Chinese music. The piece unfolds through flowing melodic lines, delicate ornamentation and dramatic contrasts, allowing the guzheng to move between moments of quiet intimacy and powerful intensity. Its title evokes the image of flowing garments among the clouds, while the music conveys a sense of longing, elegance and poetic reflection. Through both subtle nuance and virtuosic passages, Yun Shang Su highlights the guzheng’s remarkable ability to combine refined lyricism with rich emotional expression.
Guzheng Performer: Yu Chen
Pianist: Xueyi Wang
Composer: Zhou Yuguo
Artistic Supervisor: Su Chang
Butterfly and Blue 蝴蝶与蓝
Butterfly and Blue 《蝴蝶与蓝》
Butterfly and Blue is a contemporary Chinese chamber work by Yimo Tao, bringing together the delicate resonance of the guzheng with the warm, lyrical voice of the cello. Through flowing melodies, contrasting textures and an intimate dialogue between the instruments, the piece evokes images of butterflies, movement and shifting shades of blue. Its blend of traditional Chinese timbres and contemporary ensemble writing creates an atmosphere that is both poetic and vividly expressive.
Guzheng Performer: Yu Chen, Yi Liu, Cancan Li
Cello: Wuyi Xiang
Composer: Yimo Tao
Artistic Supervisor: Xiang Guang
Waves of The Sea
"Waves of the Sea" is a vivid musical portrayal of the ocean’s shifting moods, from gentle ripples to surging tides. Through flowing arpeggios and dynamic contrasts, the guzheng evokes both the vastness and vitality of the sea.
The piece explores a wide expressive range, combining lyrical passages with powerful rhythmic momentum. Like the sea itself, it moves between calm introspection and dramatic intensity, offering a rich and immersive sonic landscape.
Cang Ge Yin
"Cang Ge Yin" draws inspiration from ancient poetic traditions, carrying a sense of depth, solitude, and timeless resonance. The music unfolds with restrained elegance, gradually revealing an emotional intensity beneath its meditative surface.
Through nuanced phrasing and subtle tonal shifts, the guzheng becomes a voice of introspection. The piece reflects a dialogue between history and the present, evoking distant echoes of song across vast and open landscapes.
Blooming Lotus In The Rain
"Rain Lotus Blossoms" captures a delicate moment of transformation, where rain awakens the quiet beauty of lotus flowers. The music is characterised by fluid ornamentation and gentle melodic lines, creating a serene and poetic atmosphere.
The interplay between clarity and softness reflects the purity and resilience often associated with the lotus. Subtle variations in tone and texture bring the scene to life, offering a contemplative and refined listening experience.
Dun Huang 敦煌
Dunhuang《敦煌》 draws inspiration from the ancient Silk Road city of Dunhuang, evoking its vast desert landscapes, vibrant murals and rich cultural heritage. Through the colours and textures of traditional Chinese instruments, the piece brings to life a musical world where history, art and imagination meet. Performed by the Cambridge Chinese Orchestra.
Guzheng Performer: Yu Chen
Artistic Supervisor: Yu Chen
Echoes of Spring
Echoes of Spring is an original guzheng composition by Yu Chen, inspired by the awakening of nature in spring. Through delicate melodies and flowing textures, the piece captures a sense of renewal, warmth, and new beginnings.
Echoes of Nature
The Whisper of the Pipa
China Guzheng Music