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Theres a beautiful saying about different traditional instruments in Chinese, "三年琴，五年箫， 一把二胡拉断腰， 千年琵琶，万年筝 ，一把唢呐吹一生" One prominent example of a traditional musical instrument is the suona, a double-reed wind instrument originating from China. The suona, with its distinctive sound and dynamic range, holds a significant place in Chinese musical culture. Its powerful and vibrant tones often feature prominently in traditional Chinese festivities, such as weddings, festivals, and ceremonial events. By preserving and passing down the art of playing the suona, individuals contribute to the continuation of a centuries-old tradition and ensure that its unique essence remains alive in contemporary society. Furthermore, the suona's versatility has allowed it to adapt to modern music styles, showcasing its enduring relevance and adaptability. Thus, the inheritance of instruments like the suona not only honors the past but also enriches the present musical landscape, bridging cultural heritage with contemporary expression. (Britannica,n.d)

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History background of the Suona

唢呐suona is a Double-reed instruments first appeared during the late Han dynasty, having originated in the Middle East. The term suona derives from zurna, the Arabic name for the instrument. It is depicted, along with many other instruments, in images created from the third to the fifth century in the Buddhist cave temples at Kizil. The penetrating sound of the suona, ideal for processions and military functions, was easily appropriated for popular music. Several varieties are found in China, including a smaller version called a haidi. The player, whose mouth completely covers the small reeds, uses circular breathing (inhaling through the nose) to maintain a constant tone.(The Met Museum, n.d.)

In the Ming Dynasty, there were records of suona in ancient texts. The Ming general Qi Jiguang once used suona in military music.

In the Ming Dynasty, Wang Pan's "Zhao Tianzi · Yong Laba" described suona most vividly: "The trumpet, the suona, small tunes with big airs. Official ships come and go in chaos, all relying on you to raise your worth. When the army listens, they worry; when the people listen, they fear. Where can one distinguish between true and false? Seeing it blow down this house, injuring that house, only to blow until the water is dry and the geese fly away."(Baidu, n.d)

During the early stages of the Suona's development, this traditional Chinese musical instrument found its primary use on the battlefield, where its powerful and piercing tones served as a means of communication and motivation for soldiers. At that time, the Suona was limited to only three pitches, yet its distinct sound could be heard resonating across the war-torn landscapes, signaling commands and boosting morale amidst the chaos of combat. Over time, as the instrument evolved and gained popularity beyond military settings, its range of pitches expanded, allowing for greater versatility in musical expression and paving the way for its integration into various traditional and contemporary musical genres.(The Met Museum, n.d.)

The Suona has now become an instrument that accompanies every significant occasion in a person's life, from birth to death. It has the remarkable ability to convey both the joy of a newborn's arrival and the solemnity of a person's passing.

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China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater 中国歌剧舞剧院

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Chinese #Music Tutorial: History and culture of 'suona' | 云上民乐课：唢呐的历史和文化 | CNODDT

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Different types of Suona

There are various types of suona. The most common types are the Soprano Suona, Alto Suona, and Bass Suona.

The Soprano Suona has a higher and brighter tone. It is normally used to represent joyful melodies. The body of the suona is the smallest compared to the others, but its sound is the loudest. This is because the reed of the smaller suona, which is made from the reed plant, vibrates the most, causing it to have a higher pitch and a louder voice. Essentially, the sound it produces depends on the reed and its material.

The Alto Suona has a softer voice compared to the Soprano Suona. It is commonly used in weddings. Imagine getting married in China: the bride is being transported to the groom's home in a palanquin. The Alto Suona is mainly used as background music for this bittersweet journey.

Let's delve into the Bass Suona. It is larger compared to the Soprano and Alto Suonas, with a deeper voice that often conveys sadness or nostalgia. It is prominently featured in the Chinese orchestra. (Liu,2022)

How does the suona work

The sound of suona is mostly produced by the vibration of the reed. Through the vibration of the reed, the core and the wooden tube wall are conveyed. The suona can be said to be a difficult musical instrument for national musical instruments. The reed is the main sounding body. Because the reed is mostly made of reed, the thickness of the reed affects the timbre, and the length of the reed also affects the volume of the timbre. The short reed is loud and the long reed is beautiful. To learn suona well, first solve the problem of reeds. A good reed is the key to learning suona well.(Liu,2022)

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China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater 中国歌剧舞剧院

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Chinese Music Tutorial: New #suona types expand musical range 云上民乐课：唢呐的种类和特点 新式唢呐让西洋乐信手拈来 | CNODDT

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When we discuss the playing techniques of the Suona, we can see that it has many different techniques that require dedication and effort. This instrument is not easy to master.

Suona breath

The suona breath mostly adopts the double breathing method, also known as the natural breathing method. During the performance, the breathing volume is increased through the normal breathing state of the human being. The abdomen is used as the support point to control the vigor, and the lip is used to control the size of the breath. The lip force is mostly used to control the reed. Mouth size. The size of the mouth opening affects the tone and volume of the suona, and the mouth opening also determines the amount of breath, so the breath of the suona mainly determines the control of the suona by the abdomen and lips.

There's a very famous breathing method in the playing technique of the Suona called "Circular breathing." This method is extremely difficult but is a very powerful technique to learn. It enables the player to produce a continuous tone without interruption. Essentially, as you exhale through your mouth, you simultaneously inhale through your nose, allowing both to function simultaneously.(Liu,2022)

the tongue

The tongue plays an important role in playing the Suona. The most common tongue techniques are single tongue, double tongue, and triple tongue. The easiest method is the single tongue technique, where you only need to strike the reed with your tongue once each time you blow. The double tongue is similar to the single tongue, but your tongue hits the reed twice per beat, creating a faster sound. Similarly, the triple tongue method, commonly used to imitate the sound of horses running, involves your tongue striking the reed three times per beat.

There's also a very fun tongue method in the techniques of playing the suona, which is the flutter tongue. This involves making the 'RRR' sound while blowing. This technique is used in the classic tune called "Peeking Opera Mask."(Liu,2022)

Fingering

The finger shape of the suona is mostly the second joint of the finger as the hole for pressing. Generally, the finger cannot be used to press the hole. The belly of the finger is not beautiful at first. , rely on the base of the finger to swing up and down, the fingers relax naturally, and the joint at the root is also the key to improving the speed of suona playing. The general fingering of suona is divided into two types: one is to do 5 in the drum tone, that is, all the holes are arranged in order, and the other is to do the drum tone. 2. Arrange the scales in sequence, and all the openings are at the highest position of the scale. Of course, a suona can play a variety of tunes, and it is also a relatively wide range in wind music, so master the above basic knowledge to get started quickly with suona .(Liu,2022)

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China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater 中国歌剧舞剧院

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Chinese #Music Tutorial: 'suona' skills and classic tunes | 云上民乐课：唢呐的演奏技巧和代表曲目 | CNODDT

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When we mention the instrument suona, the first piece that comes to mind is 百鸟朝凤 which translates to “Birds Paying Homage to The Phoenix “. It is the most famous piece for the suona and its also listed as one of the top ten famous pieces of Chinese national instrumental music. It made its first appearance in the Henan Opera 《抬花轿》“Sedan chair lift” after 1949 in Henan Province

This masterpiece consist of 3 parts凤凰涅槃(PhoenixNirvana),浴火重生(Rise of the ashes),凤舞九天(Phoenix dances for nine days).The first movement is about birds coming to mourn, played after someone's passing; the second movement is about birds celebrating, played when a child turns one month old; the third movement is about birds coming to congratulate, played during weddings. (Baidu, n.d)

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百鸟朝凤    唢呐演奏 刘炳臣    山东民间乐曲  刘炳臣演奏谱

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Rappers in China especially on a show called “The Rap of China” loves to include the suona in their rap creations. For example 耍猴儿 “shua hou er” in ep12 MC Hot Dog, Capper and Tizzyt made their iconic chorus with a suona sample.

MCHotDog, is a pioneering Taiwanese rap artist known for his explicit lyrics, rose to fame in the early 2000s. His album "Wake Up" (2006), featuring the hit "我愛臺妹" (I Love Taiwanese Girls), was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. He's also a judge on "The Rap of China," influencing hip hop culture in Taiwan and beyond.

张砚拙（Capper），born June 21, 2000, in Xi'an, China, graduated from Xingzhi College, Xi'an University of Finance and Economics.

He debuted with "Cake" in 2017 and gained attention on "The Rap of China" in 2019. His singles include "无人区玫瑰" (Rose of No Man's Land) in 2020. In 2021, he won first place on "Youth Rap Project" with "衔尾蛇" (Tailed Snake).

His debut album "剑，蔷薇 Sword and Rose" released in 2022. He also appeared on "The Rap of China: Peak Battle" and released "Uniconfication" in 2023, performing at festivals like "Wheatfield Music Weekend" and "Guangzhou Star Nest Secret Realm Music Festival".

Tizzy T, born Xie Ruitao on February 22, 1993, in Chaozhou, Guangdong, China, is a prominent mainland Chinese rapper and music producer. He gained recognition by winning the "Mouth Addiction" Beat Box competition in 2010. As part of the duo "Shuang Chi" and later as a solo artist, he released albums like "Your Boy" (2016), participated in "The Rap of China," reaching the national finals in 2017, and won accolades such as the "Craftsman Spirit · Youth Role Model" award. His albums include "Night Safari" (2018) and "No Man's Land" (2018), with continued success into 2019, winning awards like the "Best Rap Musician of the Year."

They use The Suona as their main Hook. Creating a brainwashing hook. (Baidu,n.d)

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纯享丨二手玫瑰乐队 MC HotDog热狗 Capper TizzyT《耍猴儿》开启全民抖手运动| 中国说唱巅峰对决 EP12 | THE RAP OF CHINA | iQIYI精选

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Suona takes over the global stage with epic Remix with DJ Alan Walker

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Suona takes over the global stage with epic Remix with DJ Alan Walker

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During famous DJ Alan Walker world tour in China, “The Specter” suona remix was born. Famous suona content creator 川子唢呐 chuan zi suo na was invited to perform this remix on stage with Alan Walker. This remix immediately became a huge hit and it was trending on Chinese social media platforms.

川子唢呐(Chuan Zi Suona), also known as 孙名川(Sun Ming Chun) , is a prominent figure in Chinese DJ. He is a young suona performer and considered the pioneer of electronic suona music in China. He graduated from Shenyang Conservatory of Music.

As of November 25, 2023, 川子唢呐 has published 165 works on Douyin (TikTok), boasting 4.397 million followers and receiving 574.19 million likes.

Alan Olav Walker, born on August 24, 1997, is a Norwegian DJ and record producer known for his distinct style in electronic music. He gained initial recognition at the age of 16 with his debut single "Fade," released under NoCopyrightSounds, which later led to a record deal with MER Musikk.

Walker achieved international fame with his hit single "Faded" in 2015, topping charts in more than 10 countries. His debut album, "Different World," released in 2018, further solidified his success in the music industry.

Born in England, Walker developed a passion for music in his early years. His notable singles include "Sing Me to Sleep," "Alone," "Tired," "The Spectre," "All Falls Down," "Darkside," "Diamond Heart," "On My Way," and "Alone, Pt. II."

As of 2024, Alan Walker ranks as the most subscribed YouTube channel in Norway, boasting approximately 45.3 million subscribers, according to vidIQ ratings.

When these two artists collaborated, it created a fusion of East and West, blending Alan Walker's electronic sound with the distinctive tones of the suona played by Guo Ding. Such collaborations not only introduce traditional Chinese instruments to a global audience but also infuse new life into them by integrating them into contemporary music genres.

Their collaboration likely served to reintroduce the suona to the public eye, showcasing its versatility and adaptability in modern music production. It also highlights the growing trend of artists from different cultural backgrounds coming together to create innovative and unique musical experiences that appeal to diverse audiences worldwide. (Baidu, n.d)

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In my observation, I can see significant differences between the traditional and modern contexts of the Suona. In traditional contexts, the Suona is primarily the main instrument, whereas in modern contexts, it is often used as a background instrument or plays a smaller role, such as in hooks.

"Why is it important to inherit traditional musical instruments?"

The importance of inheriting traditional musical instruments lies in cultural heritage, emotional expression, artistic preservation, and social identity:

Traditional musical instruments are part of culture. By inheriting these instruments, we preserve and pass on rich cultural heritage. These instruments carry the memory of history, tradition, and ethnic culture, being an integral part of a country or region's culture.

Traditional musical instruments can express people's emotions, thoughts, and life experiences through music. Within specific cultural contexts, people convey their emotions and understanding of the world through music played on traditional instruments.

Some traditional musical instruments may face the risk of extinction due to the emergence of new musical tools. By inheriting traditional instruments, we protect their existence and enable them to continue playing a role in modern society.

Traditional instruments are often closely associated with the identity of a particular ethnic group, region, or community. By learning and inheriting traditional instruments, people can deepen their understanding of their cultural roots and strengthen their sense of cultural identity.

Traditional instruments have unique tones, playing techniques, and repertoires that offer aesthetic enjoyment. By learning and appreciating the music played on traditional instruments, people can enrich their aesthetic experiences and enhance their appreciation of music.

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In conclusion, as a pure-blooded Chinese, it is important to remember and continue our own traditions that are ingrained in our heritage. We must stay connected to our roots and uphold them. There is a Chinese saying, 饮水思源, which means we should always remember our origins and be grateful to our ancestors. Without them, we wouldn't be where we are today.

I recall the day when the great Lin Lien Yu sacrificed his teaching license to prevent the government from abolishing the Chinese school system. Just like the Chinese school system, traditional Chinese music also needs individuals like us to nurture it and help it flourish. I believe it is our responsibility to learn and pass down our traditional instruments, such as the suona, to the next generation.