The sheng, a multi-millennial instrument, is considered the most serious ancestor of the Western organ.
Album & Artwork
The Chinese ideogram for the sheng, featured on the album cover, can mean both 'universal harmony between nature and humanity' and 'the hope of life embodied by bamboo growing out of the earth'.
Performer Biography
Many prominent composers, including John Cage and Tan Dun, have entrusted Wu Wei with the world premiere of over 300 works, including ten concertos for sheng and orchestra.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wu Wei and Wang Li believe that music should flow from the perfection of the instrument itself, rather than strictly adhering to precision, rhythm, or harmony.
Performer Biography
Wu Wei, a sheng player, studied at the Shanghai Conservatory and was a soloist with the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra before moving to Berlin.
Performer Biography
Wang Li, originally from Tsingtao, China, has made the Jew's harp his primary instrument, but also plays the calabash flute, an ancestor of the sheng.
Performer Biography
Wu Wei has significantly contributed to transforming the 4,000-year-old sheng into a source of inspiration for contemporary music by creating new techniques and exploring modern repertoire.
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