"Songs of Travelers" — Behind the Scenes of the Music of Liyue

This article contains AI-generated translation.

 Published

在上海交响乐团音乐厅，上海交响乐团与民乐演奏家联袂演奏，为《原神》璃月地区录制具有东方神韵的游戏音乐。
The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and special guest Chinese traditional musicians come together at the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall to record the soundtrack for the Liyue region in *Genshin Impact*, full of the uniquely enchanting sounds of the East.

《原神》璃月音乐由陈致逸@HOYO-MiX创作，视频讲述了璃月音乐的创作理念，以及在音乐厅搭建概念录音棚的录制经历。
*Genshin Impact* music for Liyue is composed by Chen Zhiyi of the HOYO-MiX Team. Let's go behind the scenes to learn about the creative concept and recording process for the music of the Liyue region.

## Video

### Combining Traditional Chinese Instruments and Western Orchestral Music

陈致逸：璃月这次是我们游戏的第二块世界区域，它会有独特的中式美，东方美的感觉。璃月的音乐创作在西方的管弦乐的基础上，加入了中国元素，中国乐器。我觉得可以代表中西文化的碰撞与融合。
Chen Zhiyi, Composer and Music Producer: Liyue is the second world region in our game. It will have a unique Chinese aesthetic, an Eastern beauty. The music composition in Liyue combines Western orchestral elements with Chinese elements and traditional Chinese instruments. I believe it represents the collision and fusion of Chinese and Western cultures.

屠化冰：中国民族乐器像我演奏这个笛子，它就是声音比较的飘逸清脆。它的旋律感非常强，因为它的音色是非常非常独特的。
Tu Huabing, Dizi player: Chinese traditional musical instruments like the one I am playing, the dizi, have a graceful and crisp sound. Its melodies are very captivating because its timbre is exceptionally unique.

马稼骏：二胡这个乐器它是比较倾向于像一种叙述性故事一样的，一种乐器的一种感情在里面。像这种森林里面的小溪流水，或者像一片平原非常开阔，就是微风袭来。
Ma Jiajun, Erhu player: The erhu, as an instrument, tends to convey a sense of storytelling, as if it carries the emotions of a musical narrative. It can depict the flowing of a small stream in a forest or the vastness of an open plain, as if a gentle breeze is blowing.

赵墨佳：我们古筝都是五声音阶的排列比较多。其实就像两个人的对话一样的，应该是要更多的去服务于他的这个旋律，为他在下面把和声给铺好。
Zhao Mojia, Guzheng player: For the guzheng, we have various arrangements based on the pentatonic scale. It's like a conversation between two people, where the focus should be on serving the melody and laying a harmonious foundation underneath it.

施文卿：说到琵琶的特色，就是唐代著名诗人白居易写的《琵琶行》，里面有形容到：大弦嘈嘈如急雨，小弦切切如私语。嘈嘈切切错杂弹，大珠小珠落玉盘。
Shi Wenqing, Pipa player: Speaking of the characteristics of the pipa, it is best described in the famous Tang Dynasty poem "The Song of a Pipa Player" written by the renowned poet Bai Juyi. It depicts the sound of the instrument as follows: "The bold strings rattled like splatters of sudden rain; the fine strings hummed like lovers' whispers; chattering and pattering, pattering and chattering; as pearls, large and small, on a jade plate fall."

安栋：其实陈致逸很早以前就在尝试做这个东西，现在的民乐跟交响乐的联合和结合。观众、大家玩家们更关心的是，民乐和交响乐能不能融合，而不是放在一起，只是一加一炒蛋炒饭一样。我觉得其实这个还是音乐是不是漂亮，这个音乐里面有没有中国的精神。我们这次的这个原声音乐来说，我觉得是高水准的。
Professor An Dong, Music Supervisor: Actually, Chen Zhiyi started experimenting with the combination and fusion of Chinese folk music and symphony a long time ago. What the audience, players, and everyone else are more concerned about is whether Chinese folk music and symphony can truly blend together, rather than simply putting them side by side like adding eggs to fried rice. In my opinion, the key factor lies in whether the music is beautiful and whether it carries the spirit of China. As for our original soundtrack this time, I believe it is of high quality.

### Challenges Encountered in Recording

陈致逸：我们这次特别邀请到了陆晓幸老师，他曾经获得了格莱美的录音大奖。陆老师非常有经验，然后他特别擅长于现场的环境的拾音，因为现场录音条件非常苛刻。
Chen Zhiyi: We have invited Teacher Lu Xiaoxing for this particular project, who has previously won a Grammy Award for recording. Teacher Lu is highly experienced, especially skilled in capturing live environments because live recordings often come with demanding conditions.

陆晓幸：戴上耳机这是一个非常大的挑战，因为这个耳机它会串音。其实过去是在录音棚里来录，以前是没有这样录过。幸好这个厅够安静，它的信噪比好，很安静，所以也很清晰，有这样一个条件。
Professor Lu Xiaoxing, Recording Director/Consultant: Wearing headphones presents a significant challenge because they can cause sound leakage. In the past, recordings were typically done in studios, and this particular method was not used before. Fortunately, the hall we're using is quiet enough, with good signal-to-noise ratio, providing a clear and quiet environment, which is essential for such recording conditions.

安栋：为什么我们说这次会花比较多的精力，因为之前我们录交响乐队的时候相对来说是比较用快速搭建的方式。那么这次我们实际上是，类似于一个把录音棚的完整的概念放到了现场。因为这样的一个搭建实际上我们要用整整一天的时间。
Professor An Dong: The reason we are dedicating more effort this time is that in the past, when recording symphony orchestras, we used relatively quick setup methods. However, for this project, we are actually implementing a concept similar to setting up a complete recording studio on-site. Such a setup requires an entire day of dedicated time to accomplish.

### Differences Between the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra

陈致逸：之前与伦敦爱乐乐团合作的地点是在教堂里面，因此感觉很庄严，很庄重。这一次的录音地点我们选择在上海交响乐团的音乐厅，这是上海交响乐团乐手经常演出的地方。看得出上交的乐手、指挥的状态都非常的熟练和松弛。中国乐手演奏中国音乐感觉情感处理很自然，很细腻，而且他们有时候会很奔放。这是我觉得特别喜欢的地方。
Chen Zhiyi: The previous collaboration with the London Philharmonic Orchestra took place in a church, which created a solemn and dignified atmosphere. For this recording, we chose the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's concert hall, where the musicians of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra frequently perform. It is evident that the musicians and conductor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra are highly skilled and relaxed. When Chinese musicians perform Chinese music, their emotional expression feels natural, delicate, and sometimes even exuberant. This is something I particularly appreciate and enjoy.

张洁敏：我觉得陈老师对大家要求很严格。然后他弹琴的时候，原来他对自己的要求也很严格，有时候弹个三、四遍还是不够。所以我觉得非常好，大家很愉快跟陈老师这次合作，希望大家今后还有这个合作机会。
Zhang Jiemin, Conductor: I feel that Teacher Chen has very high expectations for everyone. When he plays the piano, he is also very demanding of himself. Sometimes he plays a piece three or four times and still feels it's not enough. I think it's great, and everyone enjoys collaborating with Teacher Chen. We hope to have more opportunities for collaboration with him in the future.

张松洁：很高兴通过这次的录制，然后接触了《原神》这个游戏的音乐。包括我有一些同事，我们排练之后也会聊到，大家也会觉得确实这个整个音乐的代入感是非常强的。抛开那些气势磅礴的战斗音乐，或者是比较大场面的一些乐段不说，那些精致的乐段反而是更加触动到我们心里某一些的地方。
Zhang Songjie, Associate Concertmaster: I'm glad that through this recording, I had the opportunity to experience the music of the game *Genshin Impact*. Even some of my colleagues and I have discussed it after rehearsals, and we all agree that the immersion of the music is incredibly strong. Apart from the grandiose battle music or the more epic moments, it's actually the delicate musical segments that touch certain places in our hearts the most.

周平：交响乐这个东西，很多人觉得它好像，是不是高雅音乐，好像离大家有点远。其实我觉得这是一个包容性最强的一个艺术品种，因为它几百年下来了，仍然在各个时代能够表达各个时代需要的东西。（模拟音）跟真人的这个录制相比，（真人录制）就好像有一种灵魂在里面。那他带给你的心灵的震撼，给一个打游戏的人，给一个在旁边听到或者观看你打游戏的人，可能他的感官都会有不一样。
Zhou Ping, President, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra: Symphony music is often perceived by many as something distant from their everyday lives, as if it belongs to the realm of "elegant" music. However, I believe it is one of the most inclusive forms of art because it has been able to express the needs of different eras over hundreds of years. When compared to synthesized music, the experience of recording with real musicians feels like there's a soul within it. The impact it has on your soul, whether you're a gamer or someone observing someone else play the game, can be truly transformative and may evoke a unique sensory experience for each individual.

陈致逸：在未来我们游戏音乐的理念也不会改变，为了追求极致的游戏音乐，将来我们会继续与世界各地不同的音乐团队合作，在管弦乐的基底加入世界音乐的风味。
Chen Zhiyi: In the future, our philosophy towards game music will remain unchanged. To pursue the ultimate gaming music experience, we will continue to collaborate with music teams from around the world and infuse the flavors of world music into the foundation of orchestral music.