Zhao Jiazhen

10th Annual World Traditional Album Winner
10th Annual World Traditional Album Vox Pop Winner

Here is the Music Player. You need to installl flash player to show this cool thing!

Hear More At The Vox Pop Jukebox

Record Label: Rhymoi Music
http://zhaoguqin.blog.sohu.com

[contact-form 404 "Not Found"]

X

Home Base: Beijing, China

Genre: Chinese Traditional, Contemporary Classical, New Age

Category Entered: World Traditional Album

Work Submitted: Masterpieces of the Chinese Qin from the Tang Dynasty to Today (Album)

Artists Featured: Du Cong (flutes) and Li Congnong (Percussion)

Label: Rhymoi Music

URL: http://zhaoguqin.blog.sohu.com (only in Chinese – sorry)!

Also a lot of clips on American YouTube. Here are some samples:
“The Moon Represents My Heart”

“Guangling Melody” – traditional piece for Qin

“Qin Duel” from Red Cliff

Influences: My father, who first taught me the Qin and then, Prof. Li Xiangting, my teacher, my master and my musical guide. Prof. Li has totally immersed himself into every aspect of the instrument. I wish to follow his path!

Describe your nominated work: My latest recording, Qin is my personal favorite and I feel it is my most successful album. It was extremely challenging to record on six different instruments – each one has its own unique sounds and feels so differently under the fingers. For an instrument as intimate as the qin, this is not easy to do. I feel that I am playing the best I ever have – and I hope this comes through on the CD. Rhymoi Music provided me with some of the best engineers and recording equipment in China – this is very unusual for recordings of traditional music. Everything worked together so perfectly. The program was very carefully chosen, including many of the classics of the Qin repertoire as well as some less familiar pieces and even a contemporary composition. It is a thrilling demonstration of what the Qin is capable of doing.

Why did you choose to submit this work to The 10th IMA’s? It was suggested to me by an American colleague. He spoke very highly of the IMAs – telling me they were different from some other awards because they were very supportive of original artists with unique projects. I also visited your website and was very impressed. I believe that the Qin is one of the most important musical representatives of Chinese civilization. I have devoted my life to making the Qin better known around the world, so it is an honor to participate in the IMA’s; I have already won many awards in China, but for a Chinese traditional musician to receive recognition OUTSIDE China… that is a real accomplishment!

Did you use any unusual effects or instruments in this recording? Yes, all the instruments used on my recording a historic instruments, the oldest a 1500-year-old Tang Dynasty Guqin (pronounced goo-chin).

Were there any happy accidents while in the studio, or did everything go as planned? It was a perfect studio experience! I have worked with Du and Li for years and have recorded with Ye Yunchuan (the album’s producer) on other projects. All of us have so much enthusiasm for our traditional music, so there was a real harmony between us. We recorded enough tracks for almost two CDs but selected the best for this album.

Did fans help you fund this project? No, the album was paid for by the label but there was so much generous support from private collectors and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing who donated their priceless antique instruments for me to play on this recording.

Who’s sitting in your audience? In general, my audience is broadly represented across many different age and social groups. I am fortunate to be a relatively well-known performer, so in general, my audience consists of those people who study, or like the Chinese traditional culture.

What makes your fans unique? It is always exciting for me to see both young people and Westerners attend my conferences and concerts. The Qin is actually experiencing a renaissance of sorts, as 20 and 30-somethings, you know, young professionals, take a new interest in studying Chinese traditional arts. Also, when I performed at Carnegie Hall last year with Wu Man, the Pipa virtuoso, there were many non-Chinese who really seemed to like our music. This gives me a LOT of hope for the future of traditional music.

Are there any songs you wish you wrote? Oh… this is difficult. The repertoire I perform spans more than two-and-a-half millennia! How to choose?!? Maybe something Michael Jackson sang – I would have a lot of money from the royalties!

What are your guilty pleasures on the road? Practicing my English! 哈哈! (Chinese character pronounced “Ha”)

Any close calls or mishaps while on tour? Nothing so much to mention.

Do you have any rituals before you go on stage? I meditate.

Should music be free? For most of human history artists, musicians, scholars, poets and even scientists relied upon patrons for support. The modern age has replaced the “patron” with the “state” or “marketplace.” There are disadvantages to both models – in the first, the artist must comply to the tastes and whims of his patron, whom as we have seen, may not always have “pure” motivations. In the second model, the artist becomes a disposable “product.” However, both models provided artists with a means of survival. If music is free, than how shall we live? For many of us, we either teach or work in non-music related industries, but then do we live as artists or merely passionate dilettantes? I suspect that this matter will ultimately decide itself.

How has digital affected your career? AIYA! I am from CHINA! We have an explosion of internet resources! We have our own “Facebook” and our own “YouTube.” The netizens of China are VERY passionate about music and almost everyone is blogging now! I have my own blog (personal websites are discouraged) but have not developed this as much as I should have. It is now SO IMPORTANT to recognize that every musician is part of a global community!

Are digital singles vs. full albums the future of music? I think for many casual listeners, yes but for true fans and the serious students, they will always treasure the album!

Finish this sentence: The music industry is… in the process of redefining itself as the marketplace changes through the introduction of new technologies. More music than at any other time in history is available to listeners; the question is now how to find your audience… and keep them!