Master Of The Leaf: Preserving China’s Music : NPR

On a chilly Beijing afternoon, musician Guo Yong is rooting through some bushes, choosing an instrument. He is a master of the common or garden leaf. Picking an average leaf and flicking it to check its elasticity, he puts it up to his mouth and blows against the surface, mimicking birdsong. This skill catapulted the classically trained composer onto the stage of Beijing’s egg-shaped National Theatre. He’s among a number of ethnic minority musicians who are working together with Chinese pop singer Dadawa to save dying musical traditions from extinction.

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Hear the sounds.