New Album Release: "Pentacy: Traditional Guzheng Music III" Arrives July 22, 2026

Release Date: July 22, 2026

Artist: Annie Zhou

Format: Digital / Streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Bandcamp, and more...)

I am thrilled to announce the official release of my third traditional Guzheng music album, Pentacy: Traditional Guzheng Music III, launching worldwide on July 22, 2026.

While my previous volumes explored my personal dialogue with the ancient 21-string Guzheng, Pentacy III takes a deeper, more curated turn. This album is a dedicated exploration of China's rich regional music schools (流派). Each track is a sonic postcard, capturing the unique regional dialects, cultural temperaments, and historical techniques that have shaped the voice of the Guzheng over centuries.

Chinese Regional Music Styles

In Pentacy III, the tracklist is carefully balanced between the fiery vigor of the North and the delicate, deeply emotional nuances of the South:

The Boldness of the Henan School

• "Going Upstairs" (《上楼》): Driven by expressive right-hand plucking and left-hand bending, this piece showcases the narrative, theatrical, and robust spirit of the northern plains.

• "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" (《百鸟朝凤》): A powerful, joyful classical masterpiece that uses the Guzheng’s expansive resonance to mimic the lively voices of nature.

  
  

The Lyrical Serenity of the Shandong School

• "Autumn Moon Over the Bamboo Grove" (《竹林秋月》): Representing the honest, poetic, and deeply evocative Shandong style, this track paints a tranquil soundscape of quietude and nocturnal beauty.

  
  

The Rhythmic Precision of the Zhejiang School

• "Thirty-Three Bars" (《三十三板》): Grounded in the Jiangnan region's elegant aesthetic, this iconic piece highlights structural variations and a clean, steady, and flowing rhythmic drive.

  
  

The Poetic Melancholy of the Chaozhou School

• "A Touch of Gold" (《一点金》): A classic example of Southern elegance, featuring the delicate left-hand bending and microtonal inflections unique to the Chaozhou tradition.

• "Winter Crows Upon the Water" (《寒鸦戏水》): One of the crown jewels of the traditional Guzheng repertoire. The rendition recorded for this album holds an incredibly special place in my heart, as it is the precious version preserved and passed down by my esteemed Guzheng teacher, the legendary master Changyuan Wang (王昌元老师传谱). It carries a profound, contemplative stillness and a soulful modal color that bridges generations of artistic lineage.

  
  

The Courtly Heritage of Xiansuo Shisantao

• "Hehuan Tune" (《合欢令》): Perhaps one of the most unique additions to this volume, this piece is drawn from the historic northern string ensemble repertoire (弦索十三套). It brings a stately, balanced, and courtly chamber music tradition to the solo 21-string Guzheng, preserving a rare, classical elegance.

  
  

Traditional Guzheng, Modern Brilliance

To capture the true essence of these regional styles, the recording philosophy behind Pentacy was simple: uncompromised acoustic purity.

Recorded with high-quality equipment, the album highlights the raw, natural beauty of the traditional Chinese instrument Guzheng. Every subtle pluck, the deep resonance of the paulownia wood, the natural reverb of the strings, and the profound silence between the phrases have been preserved.

Pentacy III is not meant to be a static museum piece; it is a living, breathing statement of how these ancient melodies continue to resonate in our modern world.

Save the Date, Pre-Save the Album

Pentacy: Traditional Guzheng Music III will be available on all major streaming platforms worldwide on July 22, 2026.

Whether you are looking for a deep dive into the academic roots of Chinese folk music, or simply seeking a cinematic, peaceful sanctuary of acoustic sound, I invite you to close your eyes and journey through these timeless regions with me.

Pre-save this album now on Spotify and stay tuned for the official release!