Published : 27/02/2023
When it comes to the suona, many people first think of it as an outdated traditional instrument, unaware that there is actually a specific ph.D. degree for this instrument.
Even more surprising, the suona has made its presence known on famous stages around the world in recent years.
The protagonist of today's story is Liu Wenwen, the first ph.D. of Suona in China. How did this young woman from the 90s take this old-fashioned instrument to the world stage?
Liu Wenwen's "countercurrent" choice
Born in a suona family in the 90s, Liu Wenwen's lineage dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, inheriting the suona for over 400 years, with her being the 13th generation.
Despite this prestigious family lineage, the suona was considered outdated. This instrument, popular in the Chinese countryside for hundreds of years, almost only appeared in local ceremonial events.
With the introduction of Western instruments in the 90s, the suona began to appear even more outmoded.
Playing the suona was an undoubtedly "counter-era" decision. However, Liu's parents persisted, hoping their daughter could carry on the family trade and insisted that she began playing the instrument from a young age.
Seeing few women playing the suona, the young Liu could not grow to like this metal horn, "I felt disgusted. I thought it wasn't something a girl could do." Given the chance, she would always try to avoid practicing.
Thankfully, the playfulness of a child could not wear out the patience of the parents.
No matter how much she rebelled or threw tantrums, her parents would wait until she calmed down and continue practicing with her. Day by day, the suona became the most important part of her life.
In 2008, when it was time to apply for university, her cousins chose more promising fields such as architecture and medicine, but Liu Wenwen continued to swim against the tide and enrolled in the Shanghai Music Academy to become the student of suona master Liu Ying.
Liu Wenwen takes the suona to the world stage
Playing the suona is primarily a skillful work, referred in the industry as "high-risk instrument". Any tiny imperfections are liable to be greatly amplified.
In addition, it's a physically demanding task. Playing a song for 5 or 6 minutes makes people go red in the face, requiring a high lung capacity and physical fitness.
As such, maintaining 2 or 3 hours of practice each day is already challenging, but Liu Wenwen practiced 5 to 6 hours: "I didn't have any special technique.
I simply immersed myself in the suona, practiced diligently, endlessly blowing and continuously modifying my pitch...it's fair to say, I didn't have a life".
Her hard-earned skills from constant practice awarded her a rare opportunity.
In 2017, she was invited by the Sydney Opera House to perform, becoming the first suona performer on that prestigious stage in history.
She performed in collaboration with Tan Dun, a renowned Chinese conductor and composer.
Before her performance, Tan encouraged her by saying, "You have to remember, what you hold today is an instrument with unique Chinese characteristics, performing the most traditional Chinese folk music.
You can take your time, be elegant." These words greatly empowered her.
What she was playing was the most classical and challenging traditional piece titled "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix". With the suona's gagging and circular breathing techniques, she imitated a variety of bird calls. The audience held their breath and was incredibly moved.
This performance made Liu Wenwen famous overnight.
Thereafter, she started frequently appearing on both domestic and international stages, collaborating with first-rate orchestras and conductors. She gradually realized that the suona was no longer just a simple Chinese traditional instrument.
The world stage can't be without Chinese music
To further her studies, Liu Wenwen became China's first ph.D. of suona in 2020.
Many people don't know there exists a doctoral degree for the suona, a degree that is indeed niche: only three recruitments a year nationwide requiring not only solid playing skills but also a certain social influence, hence it has been neglected for decades.
To get ready for the examination, Liu Wenwen extended her practice hours from 5 hours a day to 13 hours, almost spending all the waking hours with this metal horn.
The journey of learning has no end. After receiving her Doctor's degree, Liu Wenwen started contemplating how to further innovate and change the public's stereotype of the suona being "outdated and country bumpkin".
Like others born in the 90s, Liu Wenwen, who grew up listening to Jay Chou, was also obsessed with rock and jazz.
Hence, she came up with the idea of combining the suona with these popular elements.
On the one hand, she invited young composers to write music specifically for the suona, on the other hand, she worked with other orchestras to perform, trying to breathe new life into the interactions between the suona and other instruments.
In her innovative piece "Day and Night", Liu Wenwen blended the suona with the piano and the drum, forming a jazz style with a strong personal temperament.
Over the years, Liu Wenwen requires herself to have "both excellent skills and bold innovations."
Once mocked by classmates for learning an old-fashioned instrument, now she stands on the world stage with her suona.
Liu Wenwen says that this is her own greatest affirmation, and experiences over the years made her appreciate her responsibility, "There must be Chinese music in the world music culture; otherwise, it's incomplete."
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