Wu Xing

The Ensemble Wu Xing, made up of six musicians from China and Germany, has its roots in both the Chinese classical as well as in more contemporary musical styles. Traditional techniques are used in modern arrangements and synthesizer and drums easily complement Chinese and European string instruments.

The versatility of Linna’s professionally trained voice; Qiu Ji’s refined sound on the Chinese zither Guzheng; Martin’s intuitive use of electronic sounds; Junjie’s clear and precise command of the Chinese dulcimer Yangqin; Nora’s distinctive percussion style and Robert’s unique use of the Bavarian zither as well as his innovative compositions – all of these factors combined make a true joint venture of this journey into new musical terrain.

In this unique musical blend of East and West, the Sino-European Sound Factory Wu Xing perfectly exemplifies the future of Eurasian World Music – a future that seems very bright indeed!

The Five Elements are:
metal, wood, water, fire and earth

Linna Gong, born 1975 in Guiyang, first appeared on stage at the age of five. At 16 she began her studies at the Chinese Conservatory of Music and has been a soloist with Zhongyang Minzu Yuetuan, China’s most renowned traditional music orchestra for the past two years. In addition to many other awards, she won the Chinese National Singing Competition in 2000, gaining the audience votes of over a million Chinese television viewers. With her more recent projects, Linna is pioneering a new development in the Chinese music scene, exploring various alternatives to pop and state folklore. She brings with her a fascinating blend of traditional vocal styles and modern musical forms.

Robert Zollitsch, born 1966 in Munich, studied Music Composition in Berlin before leaving for the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to study the Chinese Zither “Guqin”. He has established himself as a noted composer, producer and ethnomusicologist and his work encompasses solo performances on the Bavarian Zither, research on Tibetan and Mongolian Folk music and Zither design and construction. Robert’s compositions and arrangements for the Mongolian singer Urna Chahar-Tugchi are familiar to international audiences and he has toured throughout Europe, Asia and North America. He was the recipient of the German Folk Award 1999 and the Berlin World Music Award Musica Vitale 2000. Ever the ethnomusicologist, Robert produced a landmark CD of Tibetan folk music field recordings in 1999. [website]

Qiu Ji, born 1976 in Chengdu, began her studies of the Guzheng (Chinese zither) with her uncle Qiu Dazheng, one of China’s most famous Zheng-players of the last century. In 1996, right after she graduated, she was invited as teacher to the Chinese Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China’s most recognized School of Music. Besides the Guzheng, Qiu Ji also learned the Japanese Koto and the classical Chinese zither Guqin. During the past years, she has toured Asia and Europe, and is recognized as an outstanding interpreter of contemporary music for Guzheng. preter of contemporary music for Guzheng.

Martin Kälberer, born 1967 in Ulm, studied Jazz Piano at the Conservatory of Music in Graz, Austria and now works from his own studio as an independent producer and composer. A multi instrumentalist, Martin is equally at home with Keyboards, Accordion, Mandolin, Percussion, Bass and Udu. He has toured extensively in Europe with bands such as Raiz de Pedra (Brazil), Carola Grey’s Noisy Mama (Jazz), Wolfgang Schmid’s Kick (Fusion), Klaus Doldinger’s Passport (Fusion) and La Bouche (Pop). He has played on more than 40 LPs and CDs and has composed, arranged and recorded musical scores for over 20 German films. [website]

Junjie Xiong, born 1977 in Wuhan, studied Yangqin (Chinese dulcimer) at the Conservatory of Music in Wuhan and is currently in the Master Class of the Chinese Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Junjie is a perfect representative of the emerging generation of young Chinese musicians, who possess not only enormous virtuosity on their instrument, but the desire to combine the traditional with the contemporary and thereby create their own individual styles.

Nora Thiele, born 1981 in Leipzig grew up with European classical music and learned Piano from her early childhood. With the age of 16 she participated in a percussion workshop and discovered her rhythmical talents and ambitions. Since 2000 she is a student at the Music Conservatory of Leipzig, studying two main instru¬ments world percussion and piano. She has been playing in various different musical projects and styles, encompassing Medieval European music, West-African drums, Folk-Jazz and Drum’n’Bass. Still very young Nora is already playing a mature style of percussion, combining world percussion and drum set in a creative personal way.