Mindy Meng Wang is a versatile Chinese-Australian composer and performer, masterfully trained on the traditional Chinese instrument, the guzheng. Born and classically trained in China, Mindy studied Western Musicology in the UK before migrating to Australia. Excelling in experimental music and improvisation, Mindy is pioneering a new sonic direction for the guzheng. Her work explores the fertile space between traditional and contemporary practices, and is part of a significant movement of Chinese musicians redefining and reinvigorating their musical tradition.
Mindy’s Sounds Unheard Studio Talk series, “The Guzheng: Tradition & Imagination”, is an invitation to learn more about her instrument and culture. Over the course of four episodes, Mindy shares an overview of Chinese music history and traditions, the background and fascinating sounds of the guzheng, and how she showcases her instrument in modern genres and unexpected collaborations.
In “The Guzheng”, the second episode in this series, Mindy introduces us to her fascinating instrument. The guzheng is a traditional Chinese instrument with more than 2,500 years of history. In this episode Mindy explains the guzheng’s name, design and key techniques, as well as touching on the key styles and notation of guzheng music.
Join us next week for episode three of Mindy’s series, ‘Story & Imagery in Chinese Music’. For more information on Mindy, please visit https://mindymengwang.com.
Tags: Chinese music Guzheng Mindy Meng Wang
