A pioneer of "new folk music," Zhang Shuang is the former chief pipa performer of Twelve Girls Band. Photo: Courtesy of Zhang Shuang

One of the first modern folk music bands in China, Twelve Girls Band is recognized around the world for its innovative performances that mix traditional instruments with fresh flair. Zhang Shuang, the former captain and chief pipa (four-stringed Chinese lute) performer of Twelve Girls Band, played the lead in getting her band's unique music to as many ears as possible.

Zhang began learning the pipa at 6 years old. Her talents were advanced enough so that in 1992, she was able to come to Beijing and became the student of famous pipa performing artist and professor Wu Junsheng. After that, Zhang took a professional pipa course at Central Conservatory of Music Middle School.

During this time, Zhang began thinking about the development of "new folk music." She began combining genres, first inserting elements of Western jazz into two famous pipa songs, "A Night of Flowers and Moonlight by the Spring River" and "The Moon Over a Fountain," for a modern twist. Her exploration and achievements attracted attention from numerous accomplished artists, many of whom invited her to record albums with them.

Zhang compares her musical transformations to art's changes through time. "After thousands of years of development, Western painting reached its peak in the 19th century, and artists made new breakthroughs with Impressionism. As an old Chinese instrument, the pipa also needs innovation and change after going through thousands of years of existence. The new era of Chinese folk music needs to be created by our generation."  

As a famous Chinese pipa performer, pioneer of "new folk music," and excellent representative of the new generation of Chinese pipa performers, Zhang fully put her own concept of "new folk music" into practice in Twelve Girls Band. They used many songs from traditional tunes, such as "Ambush on All Sides" and "The Spring Snow," integrating both Eastern and Western musical elements and instruments. Audiences can expect to see the pipa, erhu (two-stringed bowed musical instrument), marimba, violin and more in their performances.

"The perfect combination between tradition and modernity not only enables people all over the world to have a simpler and more direct acceptance and understanding of Chinese folk music, but also helps internationalize folk instruments," Zhang said.

Since 2008, Zhang has moved backstage and acted as an instructor to help educate youth on Chinese musical instruments and better develop folk music for future generations. She has also researched and developed electronic versions of the traditional instruments, including the e-pipa and the e-guzheng (a plucked musical instrument).

"They can produce more types of tones and sound effects with the effector, which helps us work better with electroacoustic bands and Western instruments," Zhang said. "The instrument development makes the music itself more abundant and diversified."