Liu performs suona at the Singapore Chinese Orchestra concert on August 17, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Liu Wenwen

At the Musée Guimet in Paris, Chinese suona player Liu Wenwen is rehearsing alongside renowned conductor Tan Dun, to prepare for presenting performances featuring the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu Province.

Liu is China's first doctoral student of suona, a traditional Chinese musical instrument known for its "loud, high-pitched" sound. For years, she has been performing suona on international stages, including the Philharmonie de Paris, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House.

"Every time I perform abroad, I feel the power of Chinese music," Liu told the Global Times. "The suona really gives me powerful energy."

30 years of efforts

Born in 1990, Liu was from a family of suona musicians in Jining, East China's Shandong Province. Both of her parents are suona players, and many of her relatives also make a living through suona performance. Her father's family has performed suona for seven generations, while the tradition on her mother's side dates back to the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Music is in Liu's blood, yet becoming a virtuoso takes time and dedication. The suona's powerful sound was so loud that it often disturbed neighbors when she practiced at home. 

Liu recalled that at the age of 4, her parents insisted that she learn to play the suona. "Every morning at 4 am, my mother would wake me up, and before my eyes were even open, I would be 'dragged' to the nearby botanical garden to practice," Liu said.

She candidly admitted that she didn't like the suona when she was little. "As a child, my classmates would laugh at me and say my family played at weddings and funerals. I felt embarrassed because suona was seen as 'countryside music.'"

However, Liu's perspective shifted after hearing the work of Liu Ying, a top suona player. 

Inspired by the beauty and complexity of the instrument, Liu Wenwen decided to dedicate herself to suona. She later enrolled at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to learn the instrument more systematically from Liu Ying. In 2018, she became a teacher of traditional music at the school.

On the advice of Liu Ying, Liu began preparing for her doctorate in 2020. The requirements for a suona doctoral degree are extremely strict, including a 60-minute continuous performance as one of the key assessments. 

During her preparation, she often practiced from 8 am until 10 pm. She ultimately succeeded in the exam, becoming China's first doctoral graduate in suona.

The suona requires exceptional lung capacity and physical endurance from its players. Additionally, it demands great control over the muscles around the mouth. 

"The strength of these muscles can quickly fade, so long-term training is essential," Liu explains. "If I don't practice for a few days, I might not be able to play a 5-minute piece." Despite her busy performance schedule, she continues to practice for over six hours a day.

She made history as the first suona artist in China to launch a nationwide tour. 

Inspiring overseas audiences

Liu's international debut in 2017 marked an important moment in her career. At the Sydney Opera House, she was playing Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix in front of a global audience, a masterpiece that often represents excellence in suona performance.

"It was an incredible honor," she said. "I was the only Chinese soloist in the concert."

According to Liu, the piece is technically challenging, with several virtuosic sections. It includes vivid, relatable scenes, such as mimicking the crowing of a rooster and the clucking of a hen laying eggs using traditional suona techniques. 

The composition also portrays a variety of bird sounds, creating an immersive experience that many listeners have described as feeling like they are surrounded by nature. "The audience's response has been overwhelmingly positive," she said. 

For many in the audience, this was their first encounter with the suona. "Many foreign spectators were excited. They didn't know the instrument, but they were amazed by its sharp, resonant tones and how it could mimic such rich, vivid bird sounds," she said.

Some clarinet and oboe players in the orchestra, as well as audience members, approached Liu backstage to ask how the suona is played and expressed interest in learning how to play it. 

"I realized how much we need cultural exchange activities like this, to share the richness of Chinese culture with the world," Liu said.

Her collaboration with symphony orchestras is a form of cross-genre fusion. In her view, symphonic orchestras are a familiar format to international audiences, so combining Chinese culture and music with this approach makes it easier for them to embrace Chinese music.

"Our music is the world's music, and it's important for everyone to know that world music cannot be complete without Chinese music," Liu remarked.

Nowadays, Liu is more motivated than ever to explore the suona. She has begun experimenting with blending symphonic, jazz, and rock music with the suona. 

"Suona can play a variety of music styles and genres. This process helps change the perception that the suona is 'old-fashioned,'" Liu said.

In her teaching, Liu enjoys exchanging suona playing techniques with her students. "It's wonderful to see the younger generation carry on the cultural heritage," she said.

Liu emphasized that innovation in folk music must be rooted in tradition. 

"To innovate, you must first master the basics. Only by firmly grasping tradition can you go on to innovate and cross boundaries," she said.

Liu Wenwen Photo: Courtesy of Liu Wenwen