Western music has a surprisingly long history in China. Liturgical music of the Catholic church found its place in Peking in the period of the Yuen Dynasty, and, although the ensuing Ming Dynasty proved less favourable to this alien intrusion, the Qing Dynasty, established in the middle of the 17th century and continuing until its elimination in the earlier years of the 20th century, found a place for the encouragement of Western music at court, particularly under the supervision of the Jesuit missionaries who took a leading part in the cultural life of the imperial household in the 18th century. The following period of Western commercial intrusion into China also brought contact with the music of the West, with court officials instructed to copy the instruments that accompanied Lord Macartney’s embassy to Peking in 1793.

In this recording, the Central Broadcasting Folk Orchestra plays Western classical works with traditional Chinese instruments, adding an oriental flavour to these famous tunes.

Recorded in Beijing, 1982