The sheng is a traditional Chinese wind instrument and one of the world’s oldest free-reed instruments. Consisting of a gourd-shaped wind chamber, vertical pipes, and reeds, it produces sound through the vibration of metal reeds. Unlike many traditional instruments, the sheng can produce both melodies and harmonies, giving it a distinctive place in Chinese music.
From tradition to modernity
Modern developments in sheng construction, range, and playing techniques have greatly expanded its musical possibilities. In addition to traditional repertoire, contemporary composers have created new works for the instrument, allowing its distinctive sound to engage with Western classical music, jazz, and contemporary music.
In Taiwan, efforts to promote the sheng have also moved beyond professional stages and into schools and local communities, giving people of different ages opportunities to discover this ancient instrument.
Professor Huang Lung-yi and the Taipei Harmony Ensemble
Professor Huang Lung-yi, director of the Taipei Harmony Ensemble (台北和樂集) and a faculty member at Chinese Culture University and the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, has devoted many years to sheng performance, education, instrument development, and new compositions.
Beyond professional performances, Huang has worked to make the sheng more accessible to the general public. The Taipei Harmony Ensemble organizes concerts and lectures to promote sheng music while developing a comprehensive sheng education system.
The ensemble has established children’s, youth, and school-based sheng groups, while also reaching into local communities to form adult sheng ensembles. Through this approach, it promotes holistic education centered on sheng, allowing people of different ages to experience music, build confidence, and enjoy the collaborative spirit of ensemble playing.
To date, the Taipei Harmony Ensemble has helped establish more than a dozen sheng ensembles, with members ranging from four-year-old children to people in their 90s. Its experience demonstrates that learning the sheng need not be limited to professional musicians — it can become an enriching musical experience for people of all generations.
From concert halls to the international stage
The ensemble’s educational mission extends beyond schools and communities. Its members regularly perform at concerts and events in Taiwan and overseas and have also taken part in international competitions.
In recent years, the Taipei Harmony Ensemble has been invited to participate in international exchange programs, performances, exhibitions, and promotional events, bringing the distinctive sound of Taiwan’s sheng music — “Taiwan’s Wonderful Sheng Sound” — to audiences worldwide.
From 4-year-old children to people in their 90s, from schools and communities to international stages, the sheng has become more than a traditional instrument. Through the Taipei Harmony Ensemble’s efforts, it has evolved into a cultural bridge connecting generations, communities, and the world.
Keeping a thousand-year-old voice alive
The sheng has survived and evolved for thousands of years because it has always adapted to changing times. When its ancient sound meets contemporary composition, when traditional techniques enter schools and communities, and when Taiwanese sheng ensembles perform on international stages, the instrument becomes not merely a link to the past but a vibrant part of contemporary culture.
Through performance, education, composition, instrument innovation, and international exchange, Professor Huang Lung-yi and the Taipei Harmony Ensemble continue to explore new possibilities for the sheng. Their “Wonderful Taiwan Sheng Sound” is helping the ancient voice of the phoenix spread its wings and soar into the 21st century.
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