ZHANG LING LING / Small Town Story

Popular, traditional and contemporary Chinese music performed on GuZheng (zither) by the lovely Zhang Ling Ling; with other musicians in supporting roles.

“Small Town Story”, Zhang Ling Ling`s world debut, focuses on GuZheng performance. The GuZheng, a plucked instrument with movable bridges that are used to tune anywhere from 15 to 25 strings, is considered the “parent instrument” of the Japanese koto, Mongolian yatga, Korean gayageum, and Vietnamese đàn tranh. The modern GuZheng usually has 21 strings.

The title track, “Small Town Story” was originally made popular throughout modern Chinese society by the late Taiwanese pop legend Teresa Teng. Other tracks include the very famous “Butterfly Lovers` Story”, “The Moon Represents My Heart” (another Teresa Teng classic), “Laughter From the Sea” (a well known Hong Kong movie theme) and the traditional “Fisherman`s Song at Dusk” among others.

Ling Ling, not only plays GuZheng, but sings on a number of tracks. She plays a number of trio pieces with two of her GuZheng students, these ensemble pieces especially, having a beautiful resonating quality.

The final track on the record is played not by Ling Ling, but by her teacher, Luo Jing (principal GuZheng of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra) who appears as the “finale” guest artist. This astounding virtuoso work entitled “Battling the Typhoon” was written during the Cultural Revolution in order to boost the morale of the masses…… For the audiophile, this is perhaps the most interesting as the dynamic range and transients are pretty amazing!

“Small Town Story” is available only in MA`s ”Emerald Audiophile Disc” format.

01. 美麗的草原我的家 My Beautiful Grassland Home 5:51
02. 月亮代表我的心 The Moon Represents My Heart 2:33
03. 笑傲江湖 Laughter From the Sea 3:12
04. 蒙古舞曲 Mongolian Dance 3:28
05. 小城故事 Small Town Story 2:09
06. 世上只有媽媽好 Mother is the Best 3:33
07. 化蝶 Butterfly Lovers` Story 5:08
08. 天涯歌女 The Wandering Songstress (A Girl Singing on the Horizon-) 3:34
09. 平湖秋月 Autumn Moon on Placid Lake 4:35
10. 漁舟唱晚 Fisherman’s Song At Dusk 4:13
11. 小河淌水 The Flowing Stream 4:27
12. 在那遙遠的地方 In a Remote Place 3:15
13. 戰颱風 Battling the Typhoon 5:36