The sad state of affairs of traditional music results not only from the popularity of Western music but also from the failure in China to develop its own music over past decades, she adds.

Traditional Chinese musicians have changed in their search for wider popularity. Assembling a symphony orchestra for traditional instruments is one way.

But the Oriental Glamor musicians believe that a chamber ensemble with fewer than 10 performer in a relatively small and intimate room  is the traditional way to present Chinese music, and the best way.

The smaller size, smaller sound and smaller setting help the audience enter the artistic conception more easily, according to Ma, the erhu player.

Oriental Glamor performs in the traditional way and performs traditional songs, but the ensemble also plays new music. The musicians play classics such as "Chun Jiang Hua Yue Ye" ("Moonlit Night of Spring River") and "Yu Zhou Chang Wan" ("Nocturne in the Fishing Boat").

New music is either adapted from pop songs like "Ye Lai Xiang" ("Night Jasmine") and folk songs from Dunhuang (Dunhuang grottoes) in Gansu Province.

"Traditional music is ancient, but not aged," says Li. "Emotion and creativity of young players can inject youth and vitality to the tradition."

Date: through February 28, every other Saturday, 7:45pm

Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong

Tickets: 50-300 yuan

Tel: 6854-1234

(Shanghai Daily November 7, 2008)