Renowned Chinese guzheng musician Chang Jing is celebrating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a unique musical gift. On the opening day of the Games, Chang will release her new album, Red, White, Blue, which features adaptations of works by French composers Maurice Ravel, Erik Satie, and Claude Debussy.

Chang Jing, known for her captivating guzheng performance of “Ritual Music – Spring Moonlight on the Flowers by the River” at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is once again making waves with her innovative approach to music. The album Red, White, Blue symbolizes a cultural exchange, blending Western classical music with the traditional Chinese guzheng. The album’s cover, depicting Chang engaging in a metaphorical dialogue with Ravel, Satie, and Debussy, emphasizes this cross-cultural conversation.

Chang’s fascination with Debussy’s music, which she describes as imbued with Eastern poetry and imagery, led her to integrate the guzheng with Debussy’s compositions. She selected three of Debussy’s classic works, arranging and performing them in a way that harmonizes with the guzheng’s poetic sound. Chang hopes that Debussy would recognize and appreciate this fusion of Eastern and Western musical elements.

In addition to her work with Debussy, Chang’s band, founded in 2010, blends traditional Chinese music with Western instruments, including violin, piano, and percussion. The band’s performances are known for their improvisational quality, often starting with a thematic framework before exploring new creative directions on stage.

Reflecting on her past performance at the Beijing Olympics, Chang expresses pride in representing Chinese culture and hopes that her music at the Paris Games will promote global unity and appreciation. She draws inspiration from a sculpture she encountered in Athens, depicting a dialogue between Socrates and Confucius, underscoring her belief that music, like sports, transcends boundaries and fosters mutual respect and understanding.

With Red, White, Blue, Chang Jing continues to bridge cultural gaps through her music, celebrating both the Olympic spirit and the rich heritage of Chinese culture.