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by Xinhua writer Wu Yilong
FUZHOU, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Putting a leaf between his lips, Qiu Shaochun, 53, blew a melody composed by himself, accompanied by 16 teenage leaf-blowers.
As China's most famous leaf blower, Qiu has performed in more than 30 countries. At a Spring Festival gala held last Monday, the musician once again enchanted the audience of his hometown Shanghang, a mountainous county in east China's Fujian Province.
"Leaves may be the oldest, simplest and most accessible musical instrument in the world," said Qiu, "Our ancestors learned to blow the leaf more than 10,000 years ago, for entertainment and communication."
In his home village of Fuyang, Qiu as a child enjoyed listening to a blind fisherman blow the leaf, and he learned the technique from his father, a versatile high school music teacher. ( With leaf-blowing as a hobby, Qiu chose to major in the erhu, a Chinese string instrument, and entered the Fujian Provincial Song and Dance Theater in 1985.
During the following years, Qiu became an accomplished erhu player. Never giving up his childhood dreams, he resolved to make leaf-blowing his career in 1996 and joined a theater company from Xiamen, Fujian, as a soloist to perform in Spain, France and Italy in 1998.
The European audiences were eager to see, touch and keep the "magic" leaves he used, Qiu recalled.
Qiu is dedicated to breaking the boundaries of his art. For example, he extended the leaf-blowing range to three octaves, wider than the erhu. In addition to Chinese songs, he also plays well known foreign tunes.
He has improved the original blowing methods, by emphasizing control and adjustment of the breath. "Once you can direct the flow of breath at will," he said, "music just flows out through the leaf."
Though any kind of leaves can be used, it is critical to choosing tough, smooth and thin leaves. Qiu himself prefers leaves of the banyan, the city tree of Fuzhou, capital city of Fujian, where he lives.
"Some people suggest plastic or fabric substitutes," said Qiu. "That may be all right. But just as the electronic organ can not replace the piano, fresh leaves are irreplaceable."
To Qiu's delight, leaf-blowing amateurs and musicians are increasing in China. Under his coaching, his home village now has a leaf-blowing band of 10 villagers, the only one of its kind in the province.
In October 2016, Qiu was invited to give a series of lectures and performances on the campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, organizing a group of 15 amateurs including several professors.
Qiu is now 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.
