Sound of tradition revives in Shandong's Juye

In Chenji village in Juye county, Shandong's Heze city, a folk suona (a woodwind Chinese instrument) band dating back to the 1940s is modernizing traditional art. This band now consists of 16 members spanning three generations and performs over 200 shows annually. They're transforming ancient folk art into a cultural code for rural vitalization.

The Juye suona band is a traditional music ensemble that combines folk wind and percussion instruments, with the suona as the primary instrument. It is accompanied by the sheng (a reed-pipe wind instrument), drums, and gongs. The melodies are influenced by the popular Bangzi opera tunes of southwest Shandong. In 2011, this music genre was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

The Chenji suona band brings the lively notes of suona music to life with vibrant, melodious, and sweet tones. Their performances express the joys and sorrows of people's lives through rich musical expressions and strong local characteristics.

In recent years, thanks to the active implementation of strategies like promoting intangible cultural heritage through special funds and culture tourism by Juye county, over 2,300 folk artists have achieved employment opportunities, with the younger generation putting new life into this ancient art. The band has made bold changes while still preserving the traditional charm of suona. They can interpret traditional pieces like the uplifting classic Bai Niao Chao Feng and spontaneously create new works blending pop melodies.

The melodic journey of suona music is timeless, and this pastoral ode of the new era is pushing rural vitalization forward. (Edited by Xie Zhenzhen)

Juye suona band is a traditional instrumental music genre performed with a combination of folk wind and percussion instruments. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]