What is it about?

“Chinese Music on Organs” is a project founded by me in 2022. It explores how music typically composed for traditional Chinese instruments can be arranged and reinterpreted for organs.

How did it start?
 

Born and raised in mainland China, I was immersed in many traditional Chinese folk tunes. I have always been curious about how Chinese melodies, originally from the East, would sound on organs, which are Western instruments. The idea of how a Western instrument could portray an oriental picture inspired me to initiate this project. I begin with the arrangement of “Blossoms on a Moonlit River in Spring,” which was debuted at Asian Classical Music Initiative International Conference (ACMI) in Lawrence, Kansas in 2022. “Blossoms” is a famous Chinese folk music in pentatonic scales, originally composed for the Pipa, a traditional Chinese string instrument, in the 18th century.

How did it go?

During the project, I realized that many traditional Chinese instruments are somehow related to the four families of stops, despite their geographical and historical distance. It is fascinating to see how traditional Chinese music adapts to organs, one of the most complex and versatile musical instruments. The unique tones of the organ create a different, spectacular interpretation of the oriental picture. This also inspired me to compose a four-voice fughetta in the pentatonic scale. I was honored to give a lightning talk about this project at AGO SF 2024 as an AGOYO member.
 

Why did I found it?

Chinese traditional music and organ music represent two essential roles in music. Bridging them not only expands the range of performance repertoire but also provides a deeper understanding of music across genres, instruments, and cultures. Each arrangement generates unlimited and unexpected effects, as each organ has its unique tones and colors.

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If you are interested in performing some of the arrangements from this project, please check out the link "Shop Scores" above.