The 24 Solar Terms, traditional Chinese calendar that summarizes different seasonal phenomena,are viewed as "China's fifth invention" in international meteorological circles. Each of the 24 points on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar matches an astronomical event or signifies a natural phenomenon.
In November 2016, the 24 Solar Terms were added to the UNESCO's Lists of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The 24 Solar Terms inspired the musical couple, Chinese singer Gong Linna and her husband, German composer Robert Zollitsch. With the help of their friend, Jing Yuanhua, who teaches Chinese language at Renmin University of China, the couple have selected 24 traditional Chinese poems and turned them into 24 songs.
From August 7, on the day of li qiu, or the Beginning of Autumn, they have already released four songs, including Beginning of Autumn based on Song Dynasty (960-1127) poet Liu Yong's poem, Shao Nian You, and Autumnal Equinox, or qiu fen in Chinese, which is inspired by the poem, Qiu Ci, by Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet, Liu Yuxi.
"The 24 poems we've selected are not just well-known traditional Chinese poems, there are also some less well-known ones. With the music, audiences understand these poems further and learn the rotation of the 24 Solar Terms, a great part of Chinese culture," said Gong in Beijing recently.
According to the couple, each of the 24 songs combine traditional Chinese instruments, such as the bamboo flute, xiao (vertical Chinese flute) and sheng (a traditional Chinese wind instrument) with contemporary musical elements.
"The ancient Chinese people invented the 24 Solar Terms to guide farming. But because the climate change, it also influences the mood of the people. That's why we have so many traditional Chinese poems inspired by the 24 Solar Terms," says Jing, who is also the editor of Gong's series of singing teaching materials. "Traditional Chinese poems are must-reads for students, but few people read Chinese poems after leaving school. With music, it can be easier to remember and understand the poems."
"The 24 songs showcase the versatility of my voice. Like my husband's combination of instruments, I also mix different singing styles into performing the 24 songs, such as traditional Chinese opera and pop music," says Gong.
The first song of the album is Jing Ye Si (Thoughts on A Quiet Night), taken from the famous poem of the same title by Li Bai (701-762).
Zollitsch says he first read the poem in the 1990s and so far has seen more than 300 translations of it.
This July, the couple left Beijing and moved to the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province, hoping to get closer to nature and focus on music. They also plan to launch a music education center there and teach children to sing songs inspired by traditional Chinese poems.
