Shén-You Ji · The Sound of Transcendence
A Fusion Chamber Concert by Yuanchun Yu
Overview
To “roam in spirit” is to listen beyond boundaries.
In Shén-You Ji · The Sound of Transcendence, pipa virtuoso Yuanchun Yu joins leading artists from traditional and contemporary disciplines to re-imagine that timeless voyage through sound.
This fusion chamber concert unites the voices of the pipa, bamboo flute, jazz piano, percussion, and cello, blending the lyricism of Eastern melody with the improvisational freedom of Western harmony.
It is not merely a concert, but an exploration—a dialogue between the ancient and the modern, the structured and the spontaneous, the visible and the ineffable.
Why “Shén-You” (Spirit-Roaming)?
In classical Chinese philosophy, shén-you—literally “spirit-roaming”—describes a state in which the mind transcends the material world and wanders freely between the human and the divine.
It is the inner journey of poets and painters, the silent meditation of sages, and the creative freedom of musicians.
For Yuanchun Yu, Shén-You becomes a metaphor for artistic liberation:
to travel between tradition and innovation,
between sound and silence,
between the self and the infinite.
Each work in this concert embodies that spirit of roaming—not as nostalgia for the past, but as a living dialogue where ancient instruments breathe with contemporary voices, where music becomes philosophy in motion.
Programme Highlights
Kong Hongwei — Summer Palace
Guan Dazhou — Ling Yan (Spirit of Smoke and Cloud)
Mystical lyricism meets rhythmic drive, painting the ascent of vapor and thought—a meditation on transformation.
Jin Fan — Impressions of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms : Grain Rain
Zhao Bo (after Yi People’s Dance) — Free Spirit 自在
Qin Sifeng — Lemon & Snow Flake (Guest Artist)
Zhao Bo — Harmony 合鸣
A fluid ensemble for pipa, cello, flute, piano, and percussion—embodying the Daoist ideal of “unity through diversity.”
E Mao — Light of the Silk Road 丝路之光 (Suite)
Sun Jing — Eternal Victory 永恒胜利
The finale celebrates rebirth and resilience—a soaring testament to the enduring vitality of Chinese instruments in a global soundscape.
Artists
Yuanchun Yu — Pipa
Renowned as the first doctoral graduate in pipa performance from the Central Conservatory of Music, Yuanchun Yu is one of China’s most dynamic young interpreters of the instrument.
Her artistry merges exquisite technique with a fearless spirit of invention, bridging the lyricism of classical tradition and the pulse of contemporary creation.
Xiaokui Ding — Flute & Xiao
Principal wind soloist of the China National Traditional Orchestra, celebrated for versatility across Asian and Western woodwinds—from dizi and xiao to Irish whistle—bringing a panoramic breath to modern folk sound.
Dawei Qu — Jazz Piano & Composer
Composer-pianist with the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, Qu infuses jazz harmony and cinematic textures into contemporary Chinese chamber music with bold imagination.
Sifeng Qin — Composer & Keyboardist
A two-time Golden Melody Award winner, Qin Sifeng is a composer and keyboardist whose music bridges pop, jazz, and world music. A graduate of the Shenyang Conservatory of Music, he has performed with renowned bands including Wang Feng Band and SEDAR Trio. He has released seven solo albums and is celebrated for his distinctive fusion of contemporary sound and Chinese melodic sensibility.
Xuyang Zhao — Cello
A cellist of eloquent tone and intellectual depth, equally at home in Western symphonic tradition and in new works that bridge Eastern spirituality and modern expression.
Yu Zheng — Percussion
A cross-genre percussionist integrating classical, folk, and world rhythms, winner of the Osaka International Music Competition Grand Prize; known for his inventive collaborations that dissolve stylistic borders.
Artistic Vision
Shén-You Ji · The Sound of Transcendence is conceived as a journey through the metaphysical landscape of sound—
a search for resonance between ancient soul and modern mind.
Here, the pipa no longer recounts history alone: it breathes, improvises, and converses with jazz chords, cinematic harmonies, and spontaneous energy.
Each piece opens a portal—from stillness to motion, from ritual to imagination—until all boundaries between tradition and innovation dissolve.
Transcendence, in this sense, is not an escape from reality,
but the very moment when sound itself becomes spirit.