This nice collection of traditional Chinese music is performed by a small silk and bamboo ensemble -- strings and flutes. The music focuses on the folk music of Southern China for the most part (and the home of silk and bamboo sounds as well), though there are also a few derivations from Mongolian folk songs tucked away in the set. The star of the show is largely flute soloist
Li He, a master on both the dizi (a higher-pitched flute) and the bawu (a deeper, reeded flute). He casually floats over the rest of the ensemble for much of the album, trilling, swirling, dancing around the music. At the same time,
Chen Dacan's erhu screeches and accompanies, adding a more human element to the sound. The whole is kept in line not so much by a bassline -- though there is a zhong ruan (a bass version of a lute) player here -- but by the more percussive sound of a yangqin, the hammered dulcimer of choice for
Zhao Zhen Ren, a member of
Chen Dacan's London-based ensemble. There are countless albums of Chinese folk and classical folk on the market, and this surely will find its way among them. The musicianship is high, though, portraying these simple folk songs in their best light, not thrashing with brass as much silk and bamboo music is wont to do, and not filling the voids with nasal vocals as much Southern Chinese folk is wont to do. Just straightforward, pleasant Chinese classical music. ~ Adam Greenberg
