Dunhuang, Reviving the Heavenly Music (4 of 8)

This is the fourth in an eight-part series by China Central Television (CCTV) on the interplay between the murals in the Mogao Caves and contemporary art in China.

Today the documentary looks at the amazing variety of musical instruments portrayed in the murals at the Mogoa Caves, and the attempt to recreate some of the instruments seen there.

These include the ceramic ocarina, which might well be the only ceramic instrument in the world. It has a truly haunting sound which perfectly accompanies the asparas on the walls.

There are nearly 5,000 instruments depicted in the murals, and many had faded out of use in China, so the murals act as a museum and historical record of past ages.

Today many artists have dedicated their time trying to first remake, and then revive, the use of some of these instruments, but the skills are time consuming and the funds are lacking.

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