Singapore, 1^st January 2026— On 17 January 2026, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) presents Resounding Winds: Liu Chiang-Pin and Singapore Chinese Orchestra, a concert that places traditional Chinese wind and percussion in the spotlight. Led by Taiwanese conductor Liu Chiang-Pin and curated by SCO suona/guan principal Jin Shiyi, the programme moves fluidly between folk roots, cultural narratives and contemporary experimentation, revealing the expressive breadth of Chinese wind music of today.

At the heart of the programme are three standout works that frame wind music from three very different angles: cross-genre reinvention, jazz-inflected lyricism and deeply rooted folk tradition.

Rap meets classical poetry: West Beyond the Yangguan Pass

Composed and originally performed by Jin Shiyi, this work reimagines the Three Refrains on the Song of Yangguan Pass through a modern lens, blending xinguan, suona, voice and rap. The Tang-dynasty poet Wang Wei’s poem Seeing off Yuan’er on a Mission to Anxi is incorporated into rap-style chanting. For this performance, Wang Chenwei, SCO’s composer-in-residence, reshapes the piece for wind quartet and orchestra, giving this traditional masterpiece a completely new identity.

A Sheng in the jazz lounge: Canto Ballad

In Canto Ballad, Singaporean composer Phang Kok Jun recasts the Cantonese classic Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake as a gentle jazz ballad.

SCO’s Sheng musician Kevin Cheng joins a jazz trio—piano, bass and drum set—in a musical conversation that is intimate yet richly atmospheric. The arrangement blends traditional timbre with jazz harmony, and its improvisatory middle section brings in playful references to moon-themed Cantonese melodies.

A rare folk masterpiece: Wang Zhanzhan presents Da Di Jiao

Representing the folk root of the concert is Da Di Jiao, performed by acclaimed suona virtuoso Wang Zhanzhan.

Originating from the border regions of Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan and Anhui, this traditional tune is built around two contrasting melodic frameworks — the expressive “slow-dragon” (man ban long) and the lively “fast-dragon” (kuai ban long). The work draws on improvisatory techniques characteristic of traditional blow-and-strike practices, giving the music a vivid, flexible and highly idiomatic folk character.

Other Highlights：

The programme also includes:

• Jiang Ying’s Impressions of Chinese Music, Mvt II: The Past and Present Life inspired by ancient instruments depicted in Dunhuang murals, featuring lyrical exchanges between xiao and guanzi.
• Wang Chenwei’s Akṣara, which transforms Sanskrit poetic metres into rhythmic gestures for winds and percussion.
• Wang Danhong’s A Song for the Heavens, performed by Wang Zhanzhan with the SCO, whose suona portrays the vastness and emotional intensity of the northern Chinese landscape.

Annex A: Programme line-up

Annex B: Biography

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