Recording the ‘Xun’ with Mr Yu in Boading

We travelled to Baoding in China's Hebei province, aiming to capture the sounds of the xun, one of the Country's oldest musical instruments, with a history spanning approximately 7,000 years.

During the visit, the GSM team met with Mr Yu, a highly respected xun performer recognised for his appearances on China’s national broadcaster, CCTV. Surrounded by a remarkable collection of handcrafted clay xuns of varying sizes and tonal ranges, Mr Yu shared both the history of the instrument and the challenges of preserving its traditions for future generations.

Before recording began, Mr Yu performed a deeply sentimental composition associated with the Hebei region. He explained that the piece has become increasingly difficult to preserve, as sections of the music and performance techniques have gradually been lost over time. The session became more than a recording exercise; it was an act of cultural preservation.

To capture the delicate tones and breath-driven textures of the xun authentically, GSM used a carefully designed recording setup featuring paired AKG 414 microphones connected to a Zoom H6 recorder. This allowed the team to preserve the natural resonance and atmospheric detail of the performances within their original environment.

Alongside the xun, Mr Yu also introduced GSM to the ring bowl, a traditional instrument commonly associated with Buddhist practices. Its resonant metallic tones added another layer to the recording session, highlighting the diversity and depth of China’s sonic heritage.

Projects like this sit at the heart of GSM’s wider mission: preserving endangered musical traditions and documenting the world’s disappearing soundscapes before they are lost. By recording artists such as Mr Yu and capturing instruments rarely heard outside their local communities, GSM is helping ensure these cultural sounds remain accessible to future generations.