A multigenerational musical journey | Yijia Tu

Summary

Podcast Summary: TED Talks Daily - "A Multigenerational Musical Journey | Yijia Tu"

Episode Information:

• Title: A Multigenerational Musical Journey
• Speaker: Yijia Tu (Presented by Elise Hu)
• Release Date: August 13, 2025

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Introduction to the Speaker

The episode features Yijia Tu, a renowned Chinese zither player, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Hosted by Elise Hu, the talk delves into Yijia's profound connection with traditional music and her innovative approach to bridging ancient and contemporary musical landscapes.

The Guzhen: A 2,000-Year-Old Instrument

Yijia opens her discussion by introducing the guzhen, an ancient Chinese zither with a rich history spanning over two millennia. She reflects on her upbringing in China, where the dominant instruments were the guitar and piano, rather than traditional Chinese instruments like the guzhen.

Yijia Tu [03:33]: "Can you imagine playing an instrument that has 2000 years of history behind it?"

Personal Musical Journey

At the age of 16, Yijia experienced a transformative shift in her musical career. She composed a song on the guitar that gained significant recognition, appearing on a major music show called Zhong Guo Hao Ge Chu. This sudden fame thrust her into a celebrity-like status, reminiscent of a "Hannah Montana" persona.

Yijia Tu [03:33]: "As a high school kid, I saw my face on news headlines. I heard my music played in public, which was a weird experience."

Her debut album won the prestigious Hua Yu Bang Zhongbang (Chinese Music Awards), thanks to collaborations with musical legends she admired. However, Yijia grappled with the westernized sound of her music, feeling disconnected from her Chinese roots.

Yijia Tu [04:20]: "With traditional music, I didn't really think it was cool."

Cultural Identity and Music Evolution

Yijia introduces the concept of "tu," a Chinese term denoting something uncool or outdated, juxtaposed with "yang zi," meaning trendy and avant-garde. She recognizes that this struggle between tradition and modernity isn't unique to China but is a global phenomenon.

Yijia Tu [04:50]: "Music traditions are dying in the hands of our generation. But how can we preserve a tradition if we don't feel a personal connection to it?"

Reconnecting with Roots through Traditional Music

Determined to bridge this gap, Yijia immerses herself in traditional instruments and folk music. Her approach isn't to replicate traditional sounds but to infuse creativity, blending the old with the new. She demonstrates this fusion through a live performance, showcasing a composition that intertwines traditional folk elements with her original work.

Yijia Tu [05:30]: "Instead of playing traditional music traditionally, it's important for me to be creative with it."

The Power of Music to Transcend Barriers

Yijia emphasizes music's universal ability to overcome language, cultural, and temporal barriers. She cites Gustav Mahler's poignant quote to illustrate her philosophy:

Yijia Tu [09:07]: "Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

She shares a deeply personal story about her grandmother, who developed Alzheimer's disease. Despite the progression of her grandmother's memory loss, the family lullaby—a melody passed down through four generations—remains a powerful tool for connection. Singing this lullaby not only brings Yijia closer to her heritage but also keeps her grandmother's spirit alive.

Yijia Tu [10:15]: "Whenever I sing the melody, she will recognize it and sing along with me, which is really sweet."

Even after her grandmother's passing, the lullaby serves as a timeless bridge, allowing Yijia to feel her presence through music.

Conclusion

Yijia Tu's journey is a testament to the resilience of cultural traditions and the transformative power of music. By blending traditional instruments with contemporary compositions, she not only preserves her heritage but also revitalizes it for future generations. Her story underscores the importance of personal connection in maintaining and evolving musical traditions, ensuring that the "fire" of culture continues to burn brightly.

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Notable Quotes:

• "Can you imagine playing an instrument that has 2000 years of history behind it?" — Yijia Tu [03:33]

• "Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." — Yijia Tu [09:07]

• "Music traditions are dying in the hands of our generation. But how can we preserve a tradition if we don't feel a personal connection to it?" — Yijia Tu [04:50]

• "Whenever I sing the melody, she will recognize it and sing along with me, which is really sweet." — Yijia Tu [10:15]

Key Takeaways:

• Cultural Preservation: Emphasizes the necessity of maintaining cultural traditions through personal engagement and innovation.

• Musical Fusion: Demonstrates how blending traditional and modern elements can create a dynamic and relevant musical experience.

• Emotional Connection: Highlights the profound personal connections that music can forge, transcending even the barriers of memory and loss.

Conclusion

Yijia Tu's presentation is a compelling exploration of how traditional music can be revitalized through creative adaptation and personal connection. Her work serves as an inspiration for musicians and cultural enthusiasts alike, advocating for a harmonious balance between honoring the past and embracing the future.

Transcript

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Simple.

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[Elise Hu]

So this is a guzhen, an ancient Chinese zither that has over 2,000 years of history. But growing up in China, I played the two most popular instruments. Can you guess what they are? It's the guitar and the piano. Yeah, not this. So I wrote a song on the guitar that ended up on one of the biggest music shows the time called Zhong Guo Hao Ge chu. And at 16, my life changed. Overnight, I entered this parallel universe as the Hannah Montana version of myself. As a high school kid, I saw my face on news headlines. I heard my music played in public, which was a weird experience. And I was working with music legends I grew up admiring, who helped my debut album won the prestigious Hua Yu Bang Zhongbang, also known as the Chinese Music Awards. However, as a Chinese musician, my music was very Westernized. I didn't sound Chinese, and in a way, I'm not sure if I really wanted to. You see, with traditional music, I didn't really think it was cool. I have to admit, in my language, there's this word for something that's not cool or backwards, called tu. But tu literally means the earth or soil that we stand on. On the other hand, you have this word called, which means the opposite. Something very trendy and cool and avant garde. But yang zi literally means Western. And over time, I realized that this isn't just a Chinese issue, but a global one. Music traditions are dying in the hands of our generation. But how can we preserve a tradition if we don't feel a personal connection to it? So I felt inspired to learn the traditional instruments and folk music to reconnect with my roots. But instead of playing traditional music traditionally, it's important for me to be creative with it. So I'm going to show you how I do that. I'm going to play you a song that's a combination of a traditional folk song as well as my own composition. I think you can guess which part is the traditional, which one's not.

[EJIA2]

Sam Sa. Hey. Hello. Is anyone. Oh, I been gone for too long. Just come.

[Elise Hu]

To spread.

[EJIA2]

All. Oh, that we are now. Thank you.

[Elise Hu]

Thank you. So there's this quote attributed to the composer Gustav Mackler that I really like. Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. And music can transcend not just the barriers of language and culture, but also time and space. For me, music can build a bridge between the east and the west, the past and the present, and between you and me. And I've witnessed how music can reach beyond the limits of not just our human memory, but even our very own consciousness. When my grandmother developed Alzheimer's, we could no longer communicate through words. However, there was this lullaby that she used to sing to me when I was a child. It's a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her. So it's been passed down my family for over four generations. And whenever I sing the melody, she will recognize the melody and sing along with me, which is really sweet. And even though my grandmother has recently passed away, whenever I sing this lullaby, I still feel deeply connected with her. It's almost like she's still singing along with me, perhaps somewhere in a space that only exists through music.

[EJIA2]

My tr sa.

[Elise Hu]

Thank you.

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That was EJIA2 speaking at TED 2025. If you're curious about TED's curation, find out [e-mail] curationguidelines and that's it for today's show. TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective. This episode was produced and edited by our team, Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Greene, Lucy Little, Alejandra Salazar, and Tonsika Sarmarnivon. It was mixed by Christopher Faizy Bogan. Additional support from Emma Tobner and Daniela Ballarezzo. I'm Elise Hu. I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feed. Thanks for listening.

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