Biography
Cao Jianguo (曹建国) (1949-2005) was one of the foremost modern exponents of the xun (埙), the ancient clay ocarina whose history extends back to Neolithic China. A graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music, he joined national troupes in the 1980s and became known for his warm tone and subtle phrasing that evoke the instrument’s archaic timbre. His recordings—especially Wild Geese Descending on a Sandy Beach (平沙落雁) and Ancient Chinese Music: Xun Solo Selections (China Record Corporation, 2003)—have been widely circulated on international streaming platforms and re-issued by Rhymoi Music. Cao’s artistry has been central to the xun’s revival, bringing an instrument once confined to archaeology back to the concert stage.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.