When a guitar speaks to Chinese poetry

Chen responds to the poem by using his guitar to compose deep, slow and intensive melodies.

"Many people, like me, have been reciting these poems since childhood. I believe that we all understand them very well, so it is not difficult to play music based on them," says Chen, 47. "The guitar is a popular Western instrument. So I believe that the emotion in the music can be experienced by all kinds of listeners."

Chen says that the guitar is an instrument without borders. He has adjusted his guitar strings to make the instrument suitable for performing Chinese works.

Born in Beijing, Chen taught himself classical guitar in the 1980s and later joined the China National Opera House and China Oriental Performing Arts Group Corp. Besides playing the guitar, he is also a tuba player.

In the 1990s, Chen played in rock and electronic bands, but he says that the more he played Western music, the more he thought about traditional Chinese music.

Classical guitarist Wang Youmin says: "Chen's music is not pop or rock. However, with traditional Chinese culture, there is a vast resource for him to explore, which will make his music fresh."

According to Han Ke, the artistic director of Chen's Landscape of Chinese Ink series, after the first three albums, they received feedback from listeners that Chen's music helped them relax.

His use of the guitar also gives new dimensions to traditional Chinese poems.

"Few people, especially from the younger generations, read ancient Chinese poems these days. We hope that this music can draw them back to traditional Chinese culture," says Han.