Beijing is modern day China at its most brash and dynamic yet has also been at the centre of China's imperial past. Oppressive foreign dynasties made it their capital, as did the Communists, resulting in Beijing absorbing a range of outside influences and becoming the hotbed of a subversive youth culture. Bar Beijing reflects the passing of time through the centuries; from imperious classical music to contemporary folk and the latest sounds emanating from the Beijing underground.

CD1- CLASSIC

1. Nanjing Song, Dance and Theatre Ethnic Music Group - Kansangetsu 2. Folksong of Shanxi region - Murmuring of the Fen River 3. Yao Gongbai - The Drinking Song 4. Cao Xuejing - Satokibi Batake Music- Naohiko Terashima 5. Music of Small Ethnic Groups in Yunnan, China - Hani no Melody 6. The Society of Jiangnan Sizhu of Shanghai - Yunqing 7. Fei Jianrong - Gao Shan Liu Shui 8. Jei Shio Fan- Marika 9. Nanjing Song, Dance and Theatre Ethnic Music Group - Shichikuchyo 10. Zhu Changyao- Chang Xiangsi (Endless love) 11. Music of Small Ethnic Groups in Yunnan - Tanreiga no Hotori 12. Mongolian Folk Song- A Wide Steppe 13. Fei Jianrong - Mei Hua San Nong 14. Dai Shuhong and others- Hanjing Canxue 15. Liu Fang - Spring Rain

CD2 - NEW

1. Fei Jianrong - The River of Rain 2. Wu Hong Fei- Cang Yang Jia Cuo Qing Ge (Love song of the 6th Dalai Lama) 3. Isabelle Huang - Yang (Itch) 4. Cao Xuejing - Kougenfujo 5. Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong - Ihoujin-Silk Road Theme 6. Da Qiao Xiao Qiao - Feng Qiu Huang (male Phoenix chasing female Phoenix) 7. Liu Fang & Farhan Sabbagh - Shepherd Maid 8. Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong - Koino bakansu (Vacance de l'amour) 9. Cao Xuejing - Saima 10. Zuo Xiao Zu Zhou - Ye He Wan Shi Xing (Making Love Outside) 11. Hiroko Kuwakino - Kinmokusei 12. Zhong Tong Quian - Mou Tian Xia Wu (Some Day Afternoon) 13. Zuo Xiao Zu Zhuo - Dang Wo Li Kai Ni De Shi Hou (When I Left You) 14. Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong - Last Emperor Theme 15. Jia Peng Fang - Maryvonne's Cherrytree

Compiled by Paul Fisher - this CD offers a snapshot on a myriad of Chinese music each track displaying the emotions and attitudes of it's own place in time and circumstance; from Cantonese opera to Beijing punk, from ancient traditions to revolutionary rock, from 1930s pop swing to 1990s pop folk. This CD represents the evolution and revolution in Chinese music until now.

Price:   £9.99

There have been many China themed Japanese popular songs down the years, from the time of the Japanese occupation of China to more recent years. This interesting compilation puts some of them together with Taiwanese legend Teresa Teng singing in Japanese to stars of the Japanese kayokyoku scene. 1. Teresa Teng/ Itsu Kimi Kaeru 2. Tsubame Yu / Sennen no Inori 3. Yasunori Sugahara / Tomo Yo 4. Teresa Teng / Ie Rai Shang 5. Miyuki Kawanaka / Yoru wa Furusato 6. Yujiro Ishihara / Shanghai Blues 7. Nobue Matsubara / China no Yoru 8. Hiroshi Ishihara / Kokkyo no Machi 9. Yujiro Ishihara / Kokkyo no Machi 10. Noboru Kirishima / China Tango 11. Miyuki Kawanaka / Soshu Yakyoku 12. Koji Honda / Mu Ryojo 13. Maiko Takigawa / Isoge Horobasha 14. Masayoshi Tsuroka & Tokyo Romantica / Shanghai no Machikado de 15. Yoshimi Tendo / Ikoku no Oka 16. Koji Handa / Tairen no Machi Kara 17. Joji Yamamoto / Yosukou 18. Yujiro Ishihara / Yogiri no Blues

Jiang Xiaoqing (guzheng), Fei Jianrong (pipa,sanxien) plus Daisaku Kume (piano, synth, pianica) and others perform a mixture of Asian and Japanese tunes, including the Peanuts 'Vacance de l'amour'. 1. Ye Lai Xiang 2. Shounenjidai 3. Miagetegoran Yorunohosiwo 4. Amairono Kamio Otome 5. Sakutazaka 6. The River of Rain (Fei Jianrong Original) 7. Last Emperor-Theme 8. Chijounohoshi 9. Ihoujin-Silk Road's Theme 10. Heri jun zailai 11. Tokinonagarenimiwomakase 12. Kokoro-no-tabi (Jiang Xiaoqing Original) 13. Asian Dream 14.Koino Vacance (Vacance de l'amour) (Vocal:Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong)

Price:   £13.99

Chinese erhu renditions of mostly Japanese and Okinawan popular songs including Hana, Nada Sousou, Umukaji, and his tune 'Put Your Hands Up', the theme tune to the TV programme News 23.

Jia Peng Fang started playing the Chinese erhu ( 2 stringed bowed violin) from the age of 8. He studied at the Central Music Academy's Folk Music Department in Beijing before he moved to Japan in 1988. where he teaches and plays with musicians from the Japanese pop, jazz and classical music worlds, plays on TV commercials and film soundtracks. He has also performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York. His music is a blend of Chinese and Western music, backed by synthesizers into a kind of New Age style. 12 tracks including newly released versions. 1. Sirious (from Faraway) 2. Silent Moon (from River) 3. Sweet Dreams (from Rainbow) 4. A Water Lilly (from Faraway) 5. Rainbow (from Rainbow) 6. Pure (from Faraway) 7. Bokyo 8. Xinglin Hupan (from River) 9. Shichahai in the Morning (from River) 10. Mirage of the Fall (from River) 11. Memory of Childhood (from Rainbow) 12. Silent Moon (Studio Live Version).


Price:   £18.99

Chinese two stringed violin, the erhu, played by Jia Peng Fang and Hiroko Kuwakino, accompanied by synthesizer, acoustic guitars and percussion into a mostly new age style of music. Music composed & arranged by Yoshihiko Sano 1. Foreigner in Shanghai 2. Boy in the sunset 3. Ocean harmony 4. Rainy day on the beach 5. Under the blue sky 6. Maryvonne's cherrytree 7. Farewell in the hill 8. Kinmokusei 9. From savanna to the hill 10. Misty dawn

Compilation of Chinese artists playing traditional instruments, such as Cao Xue Jing (Erhu), Jiang Xiaoqing (Guzheng) Fei Jianrong (Pipa, Sanxien), Jia Peng Fang (Erhu), George Gao (Erhu) and singer Jenny Zhang mostly accompanied by western instrumentation in a kind of new age mix. Some pure traditional tracks and some tasteful productions and arrangements of Chinese traditional songs, Japanese popular songs and original tunes. 14 tracks. 1. Heri jun zailai -[Ye Lai Xiang] Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong 2. Boy in the sunset -Jia Peng Fang 3. Shimauta- Cao Xuejing 4. Three Variations of the Plum Blossom -[Continental Melody] Fei Jianrong 5. Hua-Zi Hill -George Gao 6. Shyounen-Jidai - Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong 7. Shanghai story - Cao Xuejing 8. Kougenfujo - Cao Xuejing 9. Big Waves Against the Sand - Fei Jianrong 10. Aisansan - Cao Xuejing 11. Nada-Sousou -Cao Xuejing 12. Tokino-Nagareni-Miwomakase - Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong 13. Magnolia Park -George Gao & Jenny Zhang 14. Sarai - Cao Xue Jing


Price:   £13.99

The first Tompa album by Chinese musician Kin Taii was an excellent combination of Chinese indigenous sounds and western keyboard and programming sounds. Volume 2 carries on in much the same vain. 12 tracks including Yume, Yamayama no Hibiki, Tompic Dance and Yaka Akabara.

The third in the Tompa series with more of the mix of Chinese, minority music and luscious keyboard accompaniment. 11 tracks including Uruwashki Kokyo, Meso no Chi and Kuyo.


Price:   £18.99

From United Asia Entertainment - compilation of pop music from Japan, Korea and China plus DVD of video clips and TV commerical collection. Artists include Zero, Lee Jung Hyun, Yoon Gon (South Korea) en-Ray (China) Kab, Voice (Japan).

We've already had Dadawa branded as the Chinese Enya. Well now, there's another; Sa Dingding. She's from northen China and sings in Chinese, Sanskrit, Tibetan and even her self created language. 10 tracks including Buddhist mantras and original tunes. Nominated for a BBC World Music Award 2008.

Price:   £15.99

Bei Xu is a much touted Chinese jazz singer. On this album of 11 songs she sings standards such as I Love You Porgy, to modern classics such as Time after Time (Cindi Lauper) Love Me Tender and even James Blunt's Your Beautiful.

Fifteen track compilation of Shanghai and Hong Kong hits from the 1930s to 60s of covers of Japanese and Western songs.A fascinating look at the heyday of Chinese colonial music and one of the earliest east/west world music mixtures. 15 tracks including Bei Rei (Sukiyaki) Fan Jinjin (Day O) Yo Lee (Love is a Many Splendoured Thing, Unchained Melody, Tennessee Waltz) Chan Ru (Only You).


Price:   £17.99

First album for a few years from Japan resident Chinese Kin Taii who plays electronic music, mixing synthesizers and beats with Chinese instruments and melodies. Strong melodies and clever arrangements that create a contemporary Chinese sound.

Kin Taii whose father is Chinese and mother Japanese went to Japan when he was 15 in 1979. His parents were afraid of the persecution of the Cultural Revolution, especially as his father is related to the imperial family of the Qing Dynasty. Until this time he had only listened to Russian classical composers such as Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev and Chinese revolutionary songs. He remembers the shock of listening to rock music for the first time, by the likes of Deep Purple and the Rolling Stones. He bought a synthesizer and started playing rock covers, listened to New Wave groups from the UK and then from Japan Y.M.O, which was his first entry into techno and pop,along with Kraftwerk. These groups have remained a strong influence on his music until today. For this album, in 2001 Kin Taii went to Yunnan Province in southern China, home to 26 different ethnic communities, specifically to learn the music of the Naxi tribe living in Highlands 3500 metres above sea level. Their so-called Tompa culture, is reportedly the last language in the world to still use hieroglyphs, and has a rich and ancient musical range of songs. Kin Taii recorded those songs, to which he then added his own modern programmed beats and synthesized backing. This is his best album yet and comes highly recommended.

Price:   £18.99

Japan resident Chinese synthesiser player, performing his own Chinese influenced tunes, with variety of world instruments accompanying him, and the wonderful voice of Sizzle Ohtaka. Taii describes his music as "techno ambient".

Wang Minjung is a top Chinese erhu (violin) player. She can count Herbert Von Karajan and James Galway among her admirers. On this album she is joined by a flute and percussion player on a selection of contemporary material.


Price:   £18.99

Twelve Chinese female artists become stars in Japan by playing Chinese traditional tunes and Japanese pop songs on Chinese traditional instruments such as the erhu (violin) pipa (lute) and from Yunnan Province, fulusu (bamboo flute) and turyang (a small zither with 4 strings with 8 frets). Includes a promotion video live clip and member introduction.

Collaboration between erhu (Chinese violin) player Geroge Gao and Chinese singer Jenny Zhang. Easy listening versions of classical (Ave Maria) jazz (My Favourite Things) pop and Chinese tunes. This album is a compilation from their past releases Heaven on Earth and The Villa which were hits in Canada. Appeals to the New Age market. 13 tracks.


Price:   £14.99

Chinese actress Chen Hao became a superstar with Chinese communities across Asia when she starred in the TV drama Pink Ladies. Well now she's making records as well and making them in Japan. Bossa Nova, French Jazz, and New Age are combined into an album of Asian Healing. Apparently.

Cao Xue Jing is an erhu (2 stringed Chinese fiddle) player based in Japan. He is best known for providing the theme tune to Japan's long running News 23 programme. On this CD he plays that old favourite in Japan Amazing Grace, the theme to Hayao Miyazaki's anime classic Howl's Moving Castle, Chinese traditional, Japanese pop and classical tunes. His erhu is accompanied by piano, cello and saxophone. 12 tracks.


Price:   £14.99

Cao Xue Jing plays some of the most popular Okinawan songs on erhu, the Chinese two stringed bowed fiddle. He is accompanied by piano, sanshin, guitar, bass and percussion.1.Shimauta 2.Tinsagu nu Hana 3.Hana 4.Juku no Haru 5.Asadoya Yunta 6.Haisai Ojisan 7.Koishikute 8.Warabigami 9.Nada Sousou 10.Wadatsumi no Ki 11.Umukaji 12.Satoukibi-batake 13.Bashofu 14.Tsuki nu Kaisha

Following the success of the Chinese Twelve Girls Band, comes a succession of copycats or in this case Musicat. Nine pretty Chinese girls play Chinese pipa, bamboo flute, guzheng together with violin and cello on a selection of modern, mostly pop, tunes. The press release calls them a 'sexy and beauty group' and it all comes with DVD of the single 'Dancing with Musicat'.

Price:   £18.99

Chinese singer, mixing up the styles from old Chinese songs with European and Mexican flavours.

The second album from Beijing female punk rockers is just as brilliant as the first. Less raw, better tunes, varied arrangements, not all at full throttle but even reflective moments. Features their charming own brand of English. Comes as enhanced CD with promotional video. Brilliant.


Price:   £15.99

Beijing punk girl band. High energy, and apparently pretty hot in Beijing clubs right now.

Brain Failiure's latest was recorded in the USA where they have become a cult hit. 16 tracks, which all sounds like 70s punk in a way, but then again, most Beijing punk does. Produced by Ken Casey from Dropkick Murphy.


Price:   £16.99

First album by the No.1 street punk band in Beijing released in June 2003. They sing in English in a straightahead punk style. Between 2003 and 2004toured the USA three times.The Chinese 'Never Mind..'?