Music from the sky: Guqin Talk and Performance

This special program features celebrated guqin artist Wang Peng, founder of Jun Tian Fang and Jun Tian Yun He, whose work bridges traditional craftsmanship, performance, and contemporary cultural practice. Trained at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music in guqin making, Wang Peng is recognized as a leading figure who excels both as a luthier and performer. His practice goes beyond preservation, introducing a vision of living aesthetics—where the guqin becomes part of a broader philosophy of everyday life, space, and cultural reflection.

The program includes a talk and live performance that together illuminate the guqin’s rich history, subtle tonal language, and its deep connection to Chinese literati culture. Through storytelling and sound, audiences will encounter the instrument not only as music, but as a medium for self-cultivation, contemplation, and artistic expression.

The performance also features Jun Tian Yun He, a contemporary ensemble founded in 2010 and centered on guqin culture. Composed of artists from diverse disciplines, the ensemble explores the intersection of traditional philosophy and contemporary artistic practice. Drawing inspiration from classical texts—where “Jun Tian” evokes celestial harmony and “Yun He” references both fine instrument materials and ancient music institutions—the group reimagines the spirit of ancient music in a modern, immersive format.

Blending music with visual and spatial aesthetics, their performance creates a multi-sensory experience that reflects the elegance, power, and fluidity of the guqin. This event invites audiences to engage deeply with a tradition that has endured for millennia, while discovering its evolving resonance in today’s world.