Fujian Concert Orchestra Chinese New Year Performance in Andorra (Photo : CulturaAndorra/YouTube)
Qiu Shaochun is on the frontlines of rejuvenating the ancient art of leaf-blowing. The music he produces with the leaf has amazed people from various parts of the world and has inspired younger generations to learn the ancient art.
"Leaves may be the oldest, simplest and most accessible musical instrument in the world," Qiu said. "Our ancestors learned to blow the leaf more than 10,000 years ago, for entertainment and communication."
The 53-year old artist has performed in more than 30 countries. Last Monday, the musician enchanted the audience at his hometown Shanghang, located in east China's Fujian Province.
As a young boy, Qiu enjoyed hearing a blind fisherman blow the leaf. He learned the technique from his father, who was a versatile high school music teacher.
While keeping the art of leaf-blowing a hobby, Qiu majored in the erhu, a Chinese string instrument, and entered the Fujian Provincial Song and Dance Theater in 1985.
He then became an accomplished erhu player but never gave up on his childhood dream. In 1996, Qiu decided to make leaf-blowing his career and joined a theater company from Xiamen, Fujian, as a soloist to perform in Spain, France and Italy in 1998.
While keeping the ancient art alive, Qiu is also making improvements in the leaf-blowing techniques, emphasizing control and adjustment of the breath.
"Once you can direct the flow of breath at will, music just flows out through the leaf," he said.
In 2016, the leaf-blowing master has been going around schools and colleges to give lectures and recruit a younger generation of leaf blowers.
To his delight, amateurs and musicians are increasing in China. Under his coaching, his home village of Fuyang now has a leaf-blowing band of 10 villagers, only one of its kind in the province.
Aside from teaching amateur musicians, Qiu is also leading the work to include the art of leaf-blowing on the list of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage.
"We've commenced a long journey of rejuvenating the ancient folk art," he said.
With Qiu's dedication to keep the art alive and passing on the torch to a younger generation, the music of leaf-blowing will be here to stay.
