Flower and Tea Music
Bamboo Dreams
we cannot help but notice that the majority of Chinese musical instruments, especially the wind instruments, are made of bamboo. The music of this album is intimately associated with bamboo and played on a variety of bamboo made musical instruments. Treat yourself to the Bamboo Dreams and experience its exotic Oriental romance!
Cha Tao The Way of Tea
In Chinese culture there is a great tradition concerning tea. This tradition may be introduced with the two words: Cha Tao, the way of tea. The philosophy about Cha Tao aims to encourage people to return to nature. In other words, it is a pursuit of all that is pure and simple. Popular traditional musical instruments, such as the guzheng, erhu, and di, suffuse three instrumental pieces with Chinese classical flavor. The harmonious atmosphere created by these pieces of music possesses simple and peaceful qualities.
Chrysanthemum
Fall-blooming chrysanthemums are compared to the soul of autumn in Chinese poetry. The music of the album aims at presenting the flowers' graceful poise and the fine autumn scenery of the countryside. Common traditional Chinese musical instruments such as the erhu, guqin, xiao, pipa, and guzheng are used to sing the beauty of six kinds of chrysanthemums.
Orchid
Chinese orchids have clear colored flowers and finely organized foliage, possessing a placid and charming quality. In this collection, music is used to convey the characteristics of orchids to listeners. Musical instruments such as the pai-xiao, guzheng, erhu, and pipa are employed to present the lofty realm of truth, good, and beauty that orchids represent.
Plum Blossom
The plum blossom, characterized by her unyielding spirit and fortitude, is crowned the national flower of China. In this album, the upright spirit of the blossom is transformed into music of sheer texture. The interwoven sounds of nature and various Chinese string and wind instruments depict the crystal beauty of the plum blossom, blooming under the winter moon, by the solitary stream.
Waterlily
Based on the Chinese literature, the waterlily was compared to a man of noble character. To capture its spirit, Shi Zhi-you, the composer of this album fully delineates the unconquerable beauties of varied waterlilies with the Chinese musical instruments. Sounds of birds, insects, and water are also employed in the compositions to add a feel of genuine and natural beauty.