The secrets behind the language of music
What Whispers Shape Music’s Timeless Craft?
Why do some instruments sing through bone, while others hum with wood or boa leather? How do materials, shapes, and temperatures weave their magic into sound, birthing new creations? DGEM’s quest to archive the world’s musical language unveils these mysteries. We’ve joined virtuosos wielding diverse materials, their notes sparking curiosity. Dive deeper into this sonic odyssey at DGEM.org—where music’s secrets await.
Two different worlds
Dominican musician Felle Vega talks about the challenges of mixing Dominican folklore with traditional Chinese music. "It's two different wolds, in terms of music," he said. "We bring the African, native part and when you combine it with the Erhu, there is richness."
Exploring the possibilities of sound
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Boa Leather
Boa Leather
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The science of sound
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More DGEM Videos
Hong Wang playing the Erhu
Hong Wang during the workshop at DGEM's concert workshop in DR May 2025
Hong Wang, master Asian musician and inventor, unveils China’s enchanting musical legacy, weaving ancient melodies into DGEM’s global concerts—discover the artistry at DGEM.org.
Hong Wang & Felle Vega just having a great time
A 7,000-9,000 year-old bone flute
The Jiahu relics
Several archeological excavations at the Jiahu site, in Henan Province, China, unveiled a wealth of relics dating back as far back as the 7th millennium BC. Among more than 6,000 artifacts, crafted from materials such as pottery, bone, horn, and shell, several flutes stood out.
The earliest seven-note musical instrument
The meticulously crafted bone flutes mark the earliest known seven-note musical instruments in the world, reshaping the narrative of Chinese and global music history. According to experts, the presence of multiple flutes also suggests the possibility of ensemble performances.
Researchers determined that these instruments are in what we think of as the key of G (one sharp). And the fact that they have seven holes could mean that they were used for melodies, rather than whistle sounds, according to experts.
There are older instruments (roughly 43,000 years-old) that have been found in Europe. But they are in fragments and their identities as flutes has been highly debated.