Traditional Chinese/Asian Music

Mr. Charlie · 08-26-2015, 05:16 PM

Can anyone recommend some good traditional Chinese/Asian music. Doesn't have to be Chinese. Thai, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Malaysian, Taiwanese, doesn't matter.

I watched the movie, House of Flying Daggers, again recently and was struck by how beautiful the music was.

Here's the kinda sound I'm after:

All recommendations welcome.

**Frownland** · 08-26-2015, 05:21 PM

TUVA

The only immediate thing that comes to mind (though I'm sure there's more) is Chinese opera, which I'm not fond of at all tbh.

Mr. Charlie · 08-26-2015, 05:27 PM

Cheers, Frowny. That was nice. Not overly keen on the singing, but lovely music. I'll check out some more of their stuff.

**Frownland** · 08-26-2015, 05:31 PM

Their best albums are Ancestors Call and Fly, Fly My Sadness. The latter has one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Mr. Charlie · 08-26-2015, 05:45 PM

That's a powerful song. That guy's voice at the end, is it natural or manipulated? Either way, gorgeous track.

**Frownland** · 08-26-2015, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Charlie

That's a powerful song. That guy's voice at the end, is it natural or manipulated? Either way, gorgeous track.

All the singing is natural. They're using a technique called throat singing (pretty much the only thing that Tuva is known for) where you can sing two notes at once.

**Janszoon** · 08-26-2015, 10:10 PM

I like Anna Guo quite a bit. This track is a little more upbeat, but great:

I also like Jiang Jianhua. This is more in the bittersweet, erhu-centric vein of the first track posted in the OP:

grindy · 08-27-2015, 12:41 AM

I'm really surprised you don't know about throat singing.

I'll hit you with a bunch of asian stuff once I'm home.

misspoptart · 08-27-2015, 06:56 AM

If you liked House of Flying Daggers (which it appears you do), you'll probably also love the soundtrack for Hero (another awesome movie in the same genre).

I think "Gone With Leaves" is the best off of this album.

Also, this is by no means "traditional Chinese," but I suspect this might also be up your alley:

The full soundtrack to that game is absolutely phenomenal, highly recommended.

Enjoy xx

Mr. Charlie · 08-27-2015, 08:30 AM

Janszoon, the tracks you posted are spot on and just what I was looking for. Cheers.

misspoptart, yeah, Hero and Journey both have lovely soundtracks (great movie/great game too). Indeed I bought the Journey OST on CD. It's beautiful.

08-26-2015, 05:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	Traditional Chinese/Asian Music Can anyone recommend some good traditional Chinese/Asian music. Doesn't have to be Chinese. Thai, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Malaysian, Taiwanese, doesn't matter. I watched the movie, House of Flying Daggers, again recently and was struck by how beautiful the music was. Here's the kinda sound I'm after: All recommendations welcome. Last edited by Mr. Charlie; 08-26-2015 at 05:23 PM.

08-26-2015, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	TUVA The only immediate thing that comes to mind (though I'm sure there's more) is Chinese opera, which I'm not fond of at all tbh. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

08-26-2015, 05:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Their best albums are Ancestors Call and Fly, Fly My Sadness. The latter has one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

08-26-2015, 10:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	I like Anna Guo quite a bit. This track is a little more upbeat, but great: I also like Jiang Jianhua. This is more in the bittersweet, erhu-centric vein of the first track posted in the OP: __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

08-27-2015, 12:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
grindy . Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: . Posts: 7,201	I'm really surprised you don't know about throat singing. I'll hit you with a bunch of asian stuff once I'm home. __________________ *A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.*

08-26-2015, 05:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	Cheers, Frowny. That was nice. Not overly keen on the singing, but lovely music. I'll check out some more of their stuff.

08-26-2015, 05:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	That's a powerful song. That guy's voice at the end, is it natural or manipulated? Either way, gorgeous track.

08-27-2015, 06:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
misspoptart gimme gimme Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: istanbul Posts: 897	If you liked House of Flying Daggers (which it appears you do), you'll probably also love the soundtrack for Hero (another awesome movie in the same genre). I think "Gone With Leaves" is the best off of this album. Also, this is by no means "traditional Chinese," but I suspect this might also be up your alley: The full soundtrack to that game is absolutely phenomenal, highly recommended. Enjoy xx

08-27-2015, 08:30 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	Janszoon, the tracks you posted are spot on and just what I was looking for. Cheers. misspoptart, yeah, Hero and Journey both have lovely soundtracks (great movie/great game too). Indeed I bought the Journey OST on CD. It's beautiful.