Tuning into a hidden heritage

Zhang and Gan have been touring China since June 2023, performing and promoting the songs. Their concerts have been met with great enthusiasm. "Many people are hearing these pieces for the first time, but they are completely captivated and they let the music take them on a journey," Gan says. "It feels like a shared, almost sacred experience."

As a teacher of vocal music at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, Gan reflects on the challenges of performing Chinese art songs. "They are different. The piano doesn't just accompany the voice — it plays an independent role, almost like a second voice. My job is to make sure the relationship between the two is seamless," she says.

In bringing these early Chinese art songs back to life, Zhang and Gan are not just reviving forgotten music — they are reconnecting listeners to a cultural heritage that has long been overlooked.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn