Xingzhe Fusion Orchestra releases third album

The district hall opposite Yantian Central Park was fully packed Sunday evening for a performance by the Shenzhen-based Xingzhe Fusion Orchestra. Many in the audience were fans of the group who seldom miss their shows. Passionate applause erupted in the hall after each piece.

Xingzhe Fusion Orchestra performs onstage at Yantian District Hall on Sunday evening. Photos courtesy of the orchestra

A total of 17 musicians, headed by composer and guitarist Gu Bo, performed 12 pieces during the 90-minute show — four were from “A Desert, A Sea,” the ensemble’s latest album. With 11 tracks, the album was released as a vinyl record Sunday afternoon by Guangzhou-based label Starsing and as a digital album on the NetEase music site.

Alisa, a Starsing representative, told Shenzhen Daily that the label also released the orchestra’s two previous records. Noting the orchestra’s distinct sound, she said, “Their music is creative and has a small yet loyal following.”

“What makes our music stand out is a focus on Chinese instruments and traditional Chinese aesthetics,” Gu said. By writing original pieces, Gu hopes to spotlight the unique expressiveness of Chinese instruments. Percussion and other sounds are added to these pieces to increase appeal for modern audiences.

Gu Bo (L) and other guests during a press conference announcing the release of “A Desert, A Sea” at Yantian District Culture Center on Sunday afternoon.

Their 2021 debut album “Amir” features classical guitar with others instruments chiming in to create soothing and melodious tunes. “Rui Nian,” their second album released in 2023, is more versatile and colorful.

“It took me a year and a half to work on the third album, which is more ambitious than the previous projects and incorporates a larger variety of instruments,” Gu said.

In addition to the guitar, bass, violin, viola, double bass, and percussion, the ensemble employs traditional Chinese instruments including the erhu, shakuhachi, yangqin, dombra, ruan, and satar, which results in a unique sound.

Born and raised in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Gu has built his music career in Shenzhen. Discussing his dual roots, Gu said he has never felt completely at ease in both places. “I’ve always felt a yearning for my hometown, which is the theme of the third album.”

The eight-minute title track “A Desert, A Sea” depicts the spectacular landscapes of Xinjiang’s Gobi desert and the beautiful coastal scenery of Shenzhen — a coda returning to the theme of Xinjiang expresses nostalgia.

As a tribute to Cantonese culture, Gu adapted the Cantonese folk song “Yue Guang Guang” (“Moonlight”) — the track features guitar and gaohu, a kind of modified erhu. Another track, titled “Ling Shang Xing” (“Hiking the Nanling Mountains”), borrows from Cantonese folk music pieces “Bu Bu Gao” (“Higher Each Step”) and “Litchi Tune.”

“Although I employ many traditional instruments, the sound of my works is absolutely contemporary. I make sure that every instrument makes sense in my music,” Gu said.

Jin Zhaojun, music critic and former editor-in-chief of People’s Music magazine, praised Gu for honoring Chinese traditions and creating a new style. “Each generation of musicians has to find their own ways to interpret their era while harking back to their music traditions,” he said. “Gu is on track to find his unique style.”

Gu, who began learning the guitar from his father at the age of 6, was named one of the Top 10 Guitarists in China in 2013 and is a guest professor at the Jinzhong Conservatory of Music, Shenzhen University.

Since founding the orchestra in 2019, Gu and his musician friends have performed more than 200 live concerts across China.