On 11 September 2025, internationally renowned erhu performer, composer, and instrument innovator Professor Gao Shaoqing visited Beijing Normal University–Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (BNBU) to deliver a special lecture titled “The Shao-qin Erhu: From the Sounds of the Hu People to Central Plains Melodies, Advancing Toward Global Musical Innovation.” The event, hosted by the Music Department of the School of Culture and Creativity, attracted a full audience.

Professor Gao Shaoqing delivering the special lecture at BNBU

During the lecture, Professor Gao traced the etymology of the term erhu, outlining the instrument’s dissemination along the Silk Road and its place within the Tang dynasty’s vibrant multicultural landscape. He highlighted how Dunhuang manuscripts and early notational systems reveal the improvisational character of ancient music, and he discussed how contemporary tuning frameworks and microtonal techniques have been incorporated into erhu performance.

He went on to explain how the structure of the Chinese national orchestra has drawn on principles from Western symphonic traditions, and how the naming of instruments reflects connections across regions. By contrasting the aesthetics of northern music with those of Jiangnan sizhu (silk-and-bamboo ensembles), he illustrated how local cultures have shaped the erhu’s artistic identity.

In a live demonstration, Professor Gao displayed the instrument’s remarkable expressive range. He performed passages inspired by the robust timbres of northwestern Qinqiang opera, delicate selections in the Jiangnan sizhu style, the classic Moon Reflected on Second Spring (Erquan Yingyue), and an excerpt from the third movement of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, arranged for erhu—showcasing the instrument’s distinctive charm across both traditional and cross-genre settings.

Professor Gao Shaoqing giving a live erhu demonstration during the lecture

Beyond tracing the erhu’s history and expanding its repertoire, Professor Gao also outlined the development of teaching systems for the instrument and presented his own creation—the “Shao-qin” erhu. This innovative design broadens the instrument’s tonal range and timbre, allows performers to shift positions and modulate with ease, and supports electronic enhancement, opening fresh possibilities for integrating erhu performance with contemporary stage technology.

Before the lecture, the Music Department hosted Professor Gao on a tour of the campus and its teaching facilities. He praised BNBU’s picturesque setting and dynamic academic atmosphere, and he was impressed by the university’s commitment and achievements in arts education.

Professor Gao Shaoqing, a nominee for the Canadian Television Award, is celebrated for his performances, compositions, music production, and contributions to instrument innovation. His notable works include the Rhapsody series: Homesickness, Steppe Breeze, Brilliance, The Gobi, Naxi, and Shao-yin, among others.

Professor Gao touring the BNBU campus

Visiting guests with President Chen Zhi

Source | School of Culture and Creativity, Media and Public Relations Office
Text | Sienna Wu
Photography | Wang Haoxuan
Editor | Chen Xiaohong