In recent years, the popular stage interpretation methods such as "national tide" and "new national style" are all interpretations of promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and are innovative explorations that fit the aesthetic interests and artistic tastes of young people of Generation Z. The Guochao Concert is one of the more active forms of art, and has gradually become a popular form of performance among young audiences.
Recently, "Youth Chinese Music in Progress - "Fang Jinlong and His Disciples" National Tide Concert" appeared at the 39th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival in a way of multi-mix and match, classical and fashion fusion, bringing people a refreshing audio-visual enjoyment.
The whole performance is trendy and cool, with large multimedia screens and lighting matching different tracks to present the effect of animation effects and quaint connotations. Fang Jinlong, who has silver hair and a white shirt, shows a strong talent for controlling the field and humor, leading his disciples to interact frequently with the audience like an "old naughty boy" and the "Dawei Tianlong" band. In terms of repertoire arrangement, the themes are rich and the styles are diverse, and the innovative arrangement is based on tradition: there are not only rock works "New Rock of Chinese Music", but also "Book of Poetry, Xiaoya, Luming", "Book of Poetry, Shang Song, Xuanniao", "Breaking the Array, Giving Strong Words to Chen Tongfu to Send It", as well as "Karnahua", "White Horse", "Gadamerin", as well as the red track "Yingshan Hong", and the traditional classic repertoire "Plum Blossom Three Alleys", "Spring River Flower and Moon Night", and even the talk show "Chinese Music Wushuang". In terms of musical instrument combinations, in addition to the flute, flute, suona, ruan, guzheng, guqin, matouqin, and danbul that are common in Chinese music performances, as well as Fang Jinlong's iconic instrument "five-string pipa", there are also electronic music such as keyboards and basses. In the talk show session, Fang Jinlong skillfully introduced the long-established national musical instruments such as bone gong, reed, nose flute, bawu, shakuhachi, etc., and reflected his deep love for traditional culture and folk music through witty narration and live performances. He skillfully simulates electronic music and Western instruments with traditional instruments, which won bursts of cheers and applause. The encore tracks "Gourd Baby" and "A Laugh in the Sea" were even more exciting, and audiences of different ages could empathize and resonate. The change of music style, the jump of rhythm, and the dialogue of Chinese music, vocals, and electronic music make this performance different from traditional folk music performances, and closely follow the themes of "youth" and "national tide".
There is no doubt that the Guochao Concert has a positive effect on the dissemination and promotion of traditional Chinese music. Fang Jinlong and his team were able to "get out of the circle", on the one hand, the contemporary audience's acceptance and vision of traditional culture have been continuously improved and broadened, and on the other hand, the Chinese music performers have met the cultural innovation needs of the new era while keeping the integrity.
Author | Zhou Yunhui (first-class chief staff member of the Art Department of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism) Zhen Zhu
Photography | Tang Chun