Singing across the centuries

In the spring of 2024, celebrated singer Gong Linna embarked on an exciting new musical journey to breathe fresh life into an ancient art form: yuanqu. The genre, popular during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), is known for its colloquial language and accessibility, an intriguing mix of songs and drama that resonated deeply with everyday people at the time.

The Yuan period saw the rise of famous plays like The Romance of the Western Chamber by Wang Shifu and Dou E Yuan (Injustice to Dou E) by Guan Hanqing, both of which belong to the yuanzaju genre, and captivated audiences across China. Masters like Guan Hanqing and Bai Pu composed numerous sanqu (scattered lyrics) and xiaoling (short songs) that showcased the emotional depth and popularity of yuanqu — a genre that was equal parts entertainment and cultural reflection.

Inspired by this tradition, Gong teamed up with a group of talented musicians, ranging from traditional Chinese opera artists to contemporary composers and instrumentalists. The result is a new album, Gong Linna Sings Yuanqu, which blends the essence of this ancient genre with modern musical sensibilities, creating a bridge between the centuries.

On March 3, Gong performed three songs from the album — Twelve Butterflies, Forget Your Worries Tune, and Idle Joy — at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

"Yuanqu was originally performed as part of theater productions, with its songs and lyrics essential to the drama. This genre marks a crucial development in the Chinese literary tradition, and it laid the foundation for later theater arts in China. What we have today are mostly the lyrics without the music," Gong explains. "With this album, my friends and I sought to capture the spirit of yuanqu by blending traditional lyrics with contemporary production techniques. We wanted to make ancient poetry feel timeless, but also refreshingly modern."