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."

On the album, Gong pushes the boundaries of artistry, experimenting with a variety of regional operatic styles.

"Through this yuanqu series, I want to work with different forms of Chinese opera, like Qinqiang Opera and Yuju Opera," she says. "I hope these songs will be as widely sung as the lyrics from the Yuan Dynasty."

One standout track on the album is Twelve Butterflies, a piece by Yuan Dynasty poet Zhao Yan. Gong's rendition marks her debut at pingtan — a traditional art form that blends singing and storytelling in the Suzhou dialect. Adding a fresh twist, she collaborates with Sheng Xiaoyun, a renowned pingtan artist, resulting in a rich, cross-generational fusion of past and present.

Another track, Idle Joy, adapted from a sanqu by Guan Hanqing, injects humor and liveliness into the album. With lines like "he brought a pair of chickens, I brought a goose. Idle joy, idle joy", the playful tone of the lyrics finds counterpoint in a blend of reggae rhythms and traditional Chinese poetry. Gong's singing and producer Chen Junwu's arrangement infuses a carefree energy into the song in a joyful nod to the simple pleasures of life.

Meanwhile, Forget Your Worries Tune, based on a piece by Bai Pu, combines the poignant lyrics of a Yuan Dynasty song with the musical style of Kunqu Opera. Gong says that the song resonates deeply with her, its introspective message urging the listener to release their worries.

Bai Ning, a professor in the Chinese Traditional Vocal Music Department at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music and an expert on yuanqu, makes a point of the distinctiveness of this art form. "Yuanqu is very different from the classical poetry of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. It's much closer to the everyday language of the people, making it accessible and full of life," she says. "It's the music of the streets — vibrant and full of wisdom."

Gong's exploration of yuanqu comes at a time when she's already left her mark on a variety of traditional Chinese poetic forms. She's previously performed work from The Book of Songs, The Songs of Chu, and poetry from the Tang and Song dynasties.

As she moves forward, her yuanqu project will continue to expand with more pieces that celebrate the leisure and pleasures of ancient times.

"I want to bridge the gap between the past and the present, to ensure these beautiful, centuries-old songs continue to resonate with modern listeners," she says.

With her innovative approach to blending the traditional and modern, Gong Linna's new album promises not only to honor the past but also bring these ancient melodies to life for a new generation of music lovers.