Classically trained on guzheng (Chinese horizontal harp) since the age of seven, Mindy Meng Wang is redefining and reinvigorating musical traditions on the global stage.
A pioneer of the instrument, Mindy deftly explores the fertile space between traditional and contemporary music practice.She is renowned for her pioneering work in bringing the guzheng into Western genres such as experimental, jazz, classical, electronic and improvisation.
An advocate for a culturally diverse and inclusive music industry, Mindy's long-term vision is to create a strong voice for young female composers and artists of Chinese heritage and a deeper, reciprocal musical connection between Australia and China.
Ahead of her three performances this weekend at WOMADealide, here Mindy shares five of her favourite Chinese musical instruments. "There are so many beautiful musical instruments in China.
"I love a lot of them in different ways and it is very hard to choose five. So I think, maybe I should think about what I want to play!"
1: Guzheng 古筝
Of course my number one is the instrument I have played for almost my whole life, it's called Guzheng古筝. Gu stands for 'ancient' in Chinese language; this instrument has 2,500 years of history and it is one of the most popular musical instruments in China.The Guzheng is a good-looking instrument and it has 21 strings; many people call it Chinese harp/ zither. It is usually played in the traditional way.
The way I play this instrument is different from the rest. My practice is about bringing this instrument into western and contemporary context; for example, I have played with Gorillaz, Regurgitator, Paul Grabowsky, Deborah Cheetham, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and many others.
2: Guqin 古琴
Since I was little, I always loved the Guqin 古琴; it is another one of the oldest musical instruments from China. It has existed for over 3,000 years and represents China's foremost traditional solo musical instrument.Described in early literary sources and corroborated by archaeological finds, this ancient instrument is inseparable from Chinese intellectual history.
Guqin playing developed as an elite art form, practised by noblemen and scholars in intimate settings, and was therefore never intended for public performance. Furthermore, the Guqin was one of the four arts – along with calligraphy, painting and an ancient form of chess – that Chinese scholars were expected to master.
3: Xiao 萧
The Xiao萧 is one of my favourite musical instruments because it has such a special sound that has always touched the softest part of my heart. It looks like a vertical flute that is believed to have originated from my home town Gansu (Xi Qiang) during the Han Dynasty.It is mostly constructed from bamboo, and comes in eight different keys. In the old days you could find some Xiaos made of jade.
Due to the nature of the instrument, the Xiao is naturally soft in volume and does not possess a large range of dynamics. The instrument's timbre is sweet and tranquil. Music produced by the Xiao is typically gentle, calm and quiet in nature.
4: Matouqin 马头琴
My home town, Gansu, shares a border with Neimenggu (Innner Mongolia) and so there are many Mongolian musical instruments also played in my region. The one I like in particular is the Matouqin 马头琴, or the horse-head fiddle.It is called the horse-head fiddle because the top of the pole is carved into the shape of a horse head. The sound produced by this instrument is sweet, deep and pleasant.
The traditional music mostly evolved from the folk songs and can be divided into five repertoires, such as the original ballad, the heroic epic song, the horse step melody and the music developed from folk music and ancient Han tunes.
5: Ruan 阮
Another instrument I wish I could play is called Ruan阮. It is an indigenous Chinese plucked-string instrument with over 2,000 years of history. It sounds a little bit like a guitar but softer.In ancient times, the Ruan was also called qin pipa. The instrument received its present name after the famous player Ruan Xian. By the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), the Ruan had become a popular instrument in both court music and folk music.
Mindy Meng Wang plays WOMADelaide (Adelaide), which runs 10-13 March, with two solo performances (5.40pm Friday; 2.30pm Saturday) before joining Tim Shiel (8.15pm Monday).
