Passage to the Middle Kingdom

Series produced by MoraQuest

Series image

Ancient. Mysterious. Cultivated.

For hundreds of years, China has held sway over the western imagination. With exquisite silks, architecture, poetry, calligraphy, paintings, music and more, the bounty of this great civilization pays witness to the enormous creativity and heart of its people. Passage to the Middle Kingdom focuses on one of China’s most affecting exports: her musical traditions. From America’s suburbs to the subways, from community centers to world-renowned stages, Chinese musicians are bringing the sounds of an ancient art form to our western tapestry. Learn about the instruments, the music and the keepers of this oral tradition.

Producer:
Noel Morris writes for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Atlanta Opera, ArtsATL, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She is producer of the WFMT Radio Network’s “Shanghai Spring” and “Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Broadcast,” and is co-producer of WQXR’s opera podcast “He Sang/She Sang.” Past productions include "Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin," as well as radio series for the Library of Congress, Wolf Trap, WABE in Atlanta and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Noel has produced special projects for WQXR in New York City and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Executive producer:
Jennifer Hou Kwong (Jian Ping) specializes in cross-cultural exchanges and communications. She has facilitated the collaborations for Chicago WFMT Radio Network with the Shanghai Media Group Radio, China Radio International, the Shanghai International Music Festival, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and is adviser for Chicago WFMT Radio Network’s “Shanghai Spring” (two series) and “Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Broadcast.”
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For hundreds of years, China has held sway over the western imagination. With exquisite silks, architecture, poetry, calligraphy, paintings, music and more, the bounty of this great civilization pays witness to the enormous creativity and heart of its people. Passage to the Middle Kingdom focuses on one of China’s most affecting exports: her musical traditions. From America’s suburbs to the subways, from community centers to world-renowned stages, Chinese musicians are bringing the sounds of an ancient art form to our western tapestry. Learn about the instruments, the music and the keepers of this oral tradition.Producer:Noel Morris writes for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Atlanta Opera, ArtsATL, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She is producer of the WFMT... Show full description


17 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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For hundreds of years, China has held sway over the western imagination. With exquisite silks, architecture, poetry, calligraphy, paintings,music a...

Bought by KALW, KFCF FM, WVBI-LP, WCPN, KTOO and more


  • Added: Oct 25, 2017
  • Length: 58:30
  • Purchases: 10
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About 2,500 years ago, the body of a Chinese nobleman was placed in a tomb with items he cherished most: furnishings, bronze vessels, weapons and s...

Bought by KBYI


  • Added: Jul 05, 2017
  • Length: 10:00
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
About 2,500 years ago, the body of a Chinese nobleman was placed in a tomb with items he cherished most: furnishings, bronze vessels, weapons and s...

Bought by WXXI Rochester


  • Added: Jul 05, 2017
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 1
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At one time, the erhu was the muse of Central Asian nomads; this small, two-stringed fiddle could be played on horseback (imagine folk modifying an...

Bought by KBYI


  • Added: Jul 05, 2017
  • Length: 10:00
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
At one time, the erhu was the muse of Central Asian nomads; this small, two-stringed fiddle could be played on horseback (imagine folk modifying an...

Bought by WXXI Rochester


  • Added: Jul 05, 2017
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
It's among the most popular instruments in China. Over most of its 2,500-year-history, the guzheng has been a mainstay in everything from opera to ...

Bought by KRCB 104.9, Hawaii Public Radio, KBYI, and KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif.


  • Added: Jun 21, 2017
  • Length: 09:59
  • Purchases: 4
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It's among the most popular instruments in China. Over most of its 2,500-year-history, the guzheng has been a mainstay in everything from opera to ...

Bought by Raven Radio and WXXI Rochester


  • Added: Jun 21, 2017
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 2
Piece image
Have you ever heard of a wooden fish, a flowerpot drum or a nipple gong? They are part of a raucous, colorful-and wildly popular-feature in Chinese...

Bought by KRCB 104.9, Hawaii Public Radio, KBYI, and KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif.


  • Added: Jun 21, 2017
  • Length: 10:00
  • Purchases: 4
Piece image
Have you ever heard of a wooden fish, a flowerpot drum or a nipple gong? They are part of a raucous, colorful-and wildly popular-feature in Chinese...

Bought by WXXI Rochester


  • Added: Jun 21, 2017
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
As a child, Jennifer Alexa Zhang spent around eight hours a day practicing the piano. As a teen, she added the Chinese bamboo flute to her regimen ...

Bought by KRCB 104.9, KBYI, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., KHSU, Hawaii Public Radio and more


  • Added: May 09, 2017
  • Length: 10:00
  • Purchases: 6
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As a child, Jennifer Alexa Zhang spent around eight hours a day practicing the piano. As a teen, she added the Chinese bamboo flute to her regimen ...

Bought by WXXI Rochester, KHSU, Hawaii Public Radio, KPTZ, Port Townsend, WA, and KOWS


  • Added: May 09, 2017
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 5
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Yazhi Guo grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution when conservatories were closed and traditional Chinese music and musical instruments were all...

Bought by KBYI, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., KHSU, Hawaii Public Radio, and KOWS


  • Added: May 09, 2017
  • Length: 09:59
  • Purchases: 5
Piece image
Yazhi Guo grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution when conservatories were closed and traditional Chinese music and musical instruments were all...

Bought by WXXI Rochester, KHSU, Hawaii Public Radio, KPTZ, Port Townsend, WA, and KOWS


  • Added: May 09, 2017
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 5
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Xiao Xiannian (Xiao is the last name) is a conservatory-trained virtuoso of the YangQin-a Chinese hammered dulcimer. Once a soloist with a prestigi...

Bought by KBYI, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., KHSU, Hawaii Public Radio, and KOWS


  • Added: Apr 27, 2017
  • Length: 10:07
  • Purchases: 5
Piece image
Xiao Xiannian (Xiao is the last name) is a conservatory-trained virtuoso of the YangQin-a Chinese hammered dulcimer. Once a soloist with a prestigi...

Bought by WXXI Rochester, KHSU, Hawaii Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KPTZ, Port Townsend, WA and more


  • Added: Apr 27, 2017
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 6
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Wu Man lives in San Diego, but works in venues around the world. And she is doing it on an instrument that had once been in decline. When she enter...

Bought by WVTF, KBYI, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., KHSU, Hawaii Public Radio and more


  • Added: Apr 27, 2017
  • Length: 09:59
  • Purchases: 6
Piece image
Wu Man lives in San Diego, but works in venues around the world. And she is doing it on an instrument that had once been in decline. When she enter...

Bought by WXXI Rochester, KHSU, Hawaii Public Radio, KPTZ, Port Townsend, WA, and KOWS


  • Added: Apr 27, 2017
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 5